© mondaytimes

On May 14th, Filipino travel industry representatives arrived at Cheongju International Airport from Manila, receiving a welcome kit and bouquet of flowers. The Korea-Philippines travel event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Sejong/Chungchungbuk-do branch of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), and the Chungcheongbuk-do Tourism Association. It targeted Filipino travel industry representatives from Manila to revitalize the tourism industry and local economy. Starting with this inaugural flight, Aero-K will operate direct flights between Manila and Cheongju three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).

The group consisted of CEOs of major travel companies, executives from related companies, Philippine Embassy officials, travel influencers, and journalists. They spent four days and three nights starting on May 14th, visiting the typical tourist destinations of Sejong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, and Daejeon while experiencing a variety of unique local cultures. In order to promote tourism collaboration between the Philippines and the Chungcheong region in the future, they held key meetings with relevant organizations, including the Tourism Promotion Division of Sejong City, watched promotional videos prepared by each region, and visited tourist attractions. This was an opportunity to explore ways to fully utilize the tourism business in the Chungcheong region, which has been concentrated in Seoul or Jeju, and to develop and actively promote the Manila-Chungcheong travel program.

In the Sejong region, the group visited the Sejong National Arboretum, the Presidential Archives, and Beartree Park. Courtyard by Marriott Sejong, a tourist hotel in Sejong City, where they stayed, also hosted a welcome celebration for them. In Chungcheongbuk-do, they visited the presidential villa Cheongnamdae and the Belle Foret Resort in Jeungpyeong-gun. In Chungcheongnam-do, the Shrine of Solmoe in Dangjin, the Shrine of Yeosaul in Yesan, and Haemi-eupseong Fortress in Seosan were visited, while Ppuri Park in Daejeon and Shinsegae Aquarium were also key destinations of the Filipino delegation's visit.

According to Mr. Ahn Ki-eun, head of the Chungcheong Tourism Promotion Association, the trip aims to introduce various tourist destinations in the region and attract foreign tourists through various newly created travel products. Meanwhile, Philippine travel officials said that they boarded the plane in Manila with a mission to fully enjoy the beauty of the Chungcheong region and to introduce it to Filipinos through Philippine travel products.

Cynthia, a travel agency representative from the Philippines, said that she felt as though she had found a hidden treasure of Chungcheong region in Korea. She expressed her exciting expectation about returning to Sejong and Chungcheong Province, stating that she has already completed organizing a program to introduce to Filipino tourists and also has already recruited travelers.

The delegation from the Philippines' visit is expected to strengthen the long-standing friendship between Korea and the Philippines. It is also expected to boost the local economies of Sejong and the Chungcheong region.