The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea may have drawn to a close on Sunday, but work to leverage the games to raise the country’s profile for business events is still going on at full speed.
“The world now knows more about Pyeongchang and South Korea, so we have set up more infrastructure in the Gangwon province as valuable tourism assets,” said Jung Jiman, deputy director, Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO).
He added that greater awareness of Pyeongchang’s winter resorts and facilities among domestic and international planners will draw in more business events as well as spark developments in other provinces of South Korea.
The Games has also helped to dispel perceptions of “danger” that the market may hold regarding South Korea as a result of news surrounding a provocative North, noted Jung, who explained that potential visitors are now more aware of the “peaceful” relations between the two Koreas.
Jung observed at the recent AIME that “demand is growing” for incentive and meeting groups to South Korea, thanks to the Games.
Tricia Mikolai, managing director, BI Worldwide, observed: “There is not much fear from our clients in Australia. South Korea has been overlooked but now it’s the next destination for people to go.”
What it can benefit from is more information and awareness about its offerings, said Mikolai. She continued: “When we think of South Korea, we think of Seoul and the Olympics, but there’s so much more to it.”