IGTO Seoul IGTO Seoul

 Population: 50 Million (2010, June) Seoul: 10 Million Gyounggi Do (largest province surrounding Seoul): 11 Million Busan: 3.5 Million Daegu: 2.5 Million  Religions Christians: 13.7 Million (28% of the population; Protestant: 8.6 Million; Catholic: 5.1 Million) Buddhists: 10.7 Million Other Minor Religions: 0.5 Million Without Religions: 21.9 Million (Statistics by Korean National Statistical Office, 2005) IGTO Seoul2 Background of Korea

IGTO Seoul3 ProtestantCatholicTotal% Gyeonggido 2,260,5941,286,104 4,455,97432% Incheon 563,433345,843 Seoul 2,222,8311,382,2643,605,09526% Gyeongsangdo 559,075362,789 2,210,25116% Busan 364,592261,410 Daegu 255,593240,230 Ulsan 99,57166,991 Jeonrado 863,637360,292 1,686,60012% Gwangju 278,884183,787 Chungcheongdo 587,278314,870 1,351,34510% Daejeon 295,330153,867 Gangwon 227,437132,936360,3733% Jejudo 38,18354,76492,9471% Total8,616,4385,146,14713,762,585100% Christians by Province (do) & City

IGTO Seoul4 Korean Outbound Tourism 13,324,997 11,996,094 IM F 12,488,364  Increasing in general.  Decrease in due to increase of dollar exchange rate and global economic crisis.  2011: 12.5M in spite of disasters & economic slump.

IGTO Seoul5 Korean Outbound Tourism by Continent (Statistics by Korea Tourism Organization, 2005) Asia > Americas > Europe > Oceania > Middle East> Africa

 Koreans usually get short holidays from company: 3-7 days.  Good weather is an important factor to decide a tour.  Important to eat Korean food during tour.  Way of package purchase: offline agents 80%, online 20%  Most of Korean groups have a Korean tour conductor from Korea because of language problem.  Usually choose short destinations in Asia for rest and leisure (one country) and long destinations for tour (3-6 countries at once; visiting tourist sites, historical sites, unique nature).  Package groups for long destinations usually visit in the order of Western Europe – North America – Eastern Europe & Mediterranean countries – Northern Europe – Middle East (Pilgrimage is exceptional of this order) – South America. IGTO Seoul6 Koreans’ Travel Pattern

 Food Korean Tourists bring to tour: gim (seaweed), gimchi, pepper paste, stir-fried anchovies, cup-ramyen, etc.  Food Korean tourists are served in Korean restaurants during tour: Jabchae, Bulgogi, gimchijigae, bibimbab, etc. (twice on average for 7 days of tour) Korean Food IGTO Seoul7

 Korean agents mostly work with Korean land operators, either working independently or working with local agents, due to language, time difference, food, etc.  Big wholesalers have branch offices abroad: e.g., Hana Tour in London and LA; Mode Tour in London and Paris. In the countries where they have no branch office, they work with Korean operators registered in the country where they work. Korean Agents’ Working System for Land Handling IGTO Seoul8

9 Korean Tourists to Israel IMFIMF Full Gospel  Korean market is growing in general but sensitive to economical & security factors, e.g., In 2009: increase of dollar exchange rate (up to 1,600KRW/USD), global economic crisis and Gaza incident. In 2011: incidents in the Middle East. Many groups were cancelled/postponed or changed destinations to Greece/Turkey. 32,000 visitors expected.

 High & Low Season: Highest Season: Jan.-Feb. (school winter vacation), more than 30% of traffic concentrated. Low Season: July-Aug. (hot weather in Israel) Lowest Season: Nov.-Dec. (end of year, Christmas)  Major Targets: Christians from age group of with a middle-high socio- economic status consisting of the most of the pilgrimage groups. Christian seminary students steadily visit Israel as a part of their curriculum. IGTO Seoul10 Koreans’ Pilgrimage Pattern

 Major Pilgrimage Routes: “Exodus Route”: most typical pilgrimage covering 3 countries of Egypt/Jordan/Israel (3~4 nights in Israel). “Paulos Route”: Greece/Turkey.  Since the resumption of the direct flight of Korean Air in 2008 (3 times/week), number of trip for “Israel Only” is growing and number of Catholic groups visiting Israel has grown too.  Protestant and Catholic groups (7:3): using different terms and different pronunciation of place names in the Bible. Mostly, protestant operators & guides for Protestant groups and Catholic operators & guides for Catholic groups. IGTO Seoul11

 Cruise pilgrimage is getting popular for large groups of 200pax or more with cooperation between agents and Christian TV stations because of convenience of lodging and organizing assemblies. (about 600pax in 2011; Seoul Travel & CTS TV, Jau Tour & CBS TV, Santa Cruise and CBS Tour planning large groups of pax for 2012 Easter.)  Israel for general tour: Some wholesalers sell Middle East packages including Israel to new destination seekers. Hana Tour, No. 1 wholesaler, started to sell Israel/Jordan for general tour with ad in Hanatour.com, road show for retailers & sales people, plan to prepare DVD & brochure for general tour. IGTO Seoul12

 Korean agents work with Korean land operators in Israel as they do for other destinations.  Most Korean tour guides are students with a student visa for limited period.  Two biggest wholesalers work with Christian agents by outsourcing: Hana Tour (No. 1; 1,100 Hana Tour only sales agencies / 7,000 sales agencies selling Hana Tour products) with Koryo Travel Service since 2009; Mode Tour (No. 2; 700 / 4,300) with Jongryonamu Tour since Korean Agents’ Working System for Pilgrimage IGTO Seoul13

MARKETING ACTIVITIES IGTO Seoul

 3~4 times/year in major cities  Lectures by Israel Specialists  Contents of Lectures: Israel geography, modern society & culture, archeology, etc.  Welcome Speech by Israel Ambassador  Participants: 200~250 church leaders  10 Major Agents’ Promotion at Lobby  Lucky Draw  Good responses from both agents and church leaders.  Best way to connect agents with pastors.  Sending newsletter 2-3 times/month. IGTO Seoul15 Israel Seminars for Church Leaders

IGTO Seoul16 Pictures from Israel Seminars

 Lecture: “Israel Society & Culture”  Participants: about 100 (85 new & existing agents, media)  Lucky draw  Agents need rich information of Israel, because pastors know a lot of Israel & the Bible. IGTO Seoul17 Agent Seminar “Israel Study Day”

 2010 Nov. – 2011 Feb.  Media: Christian Newspapers Christian Magazines Professional Newspapers Christian Websites  Good way to expose Israel as a tourist destination and help the agents get more inquiry calls.  In 2012 new creative – investment of 1 million shekel IGTO Seoul18 Ad Campaign

 KOTFA Travel Fairs B2C: 4 times/year in major cities  Hana Tour Travel Convention B2c & B2B IGTO Seoul19 Travel Fairs

 Mud Mask Event: Twice per day: Number of participants: about 80~100  Vote for wish destination in Israel: “Where do you want to visit most in Israel?” Jerusalem, Dead Sea > Galilee, Tel-Aviv IGTO Seoul20 Israel Booth in Travel Fairs

 2010, journalists from protestant denominational newspapers  2010, Study Tour for pastors, 50 groups (1,500pax), bus & guide provided  2011, delegation of Sarang Church including the senior pastor  , PBC Catholic TV  , Israel Tourism Convention, new tour agents & journalists Hosting IGTO Seoul21

IGTO Seoul22 Facebook

IGTO Seoul23 Monthly Quiz Corner :  4-5 simple questions about Israel with gifts.  Announcement by & facebook.

MARKETING PLAN 2012 IGTO Seoul

 Outbound tourism of Korea: Growth up to the highest level of 2007 (13M) is expected due to the steadily increasing outbound market (expected rate of economic growth: 3.8%).  But it is told that general election (April), presidential election (Dec.) and the European economic crisis can affect the tourism market negatively.  Pilgrimage market: About 20% of growth is expected compared to 2010, unless other serious incidents occur in the region. IGTO Seoul25 Forecast about Tourism Movement in 2012

IGTO Seoul26 Focus of the Marketing Activities 2012 Existing Activities:  Israel Seminars for Church Leaders  Agent Seminars: Israel Movie Evening, Israel Study Day  Travel Fairs  Joint Promotion Agreements  Media FAM  Agent FAM  New Ad Campaign with Special Korean Creative for the First Time  Online Promotion (website & facebook) New Activities (tentative):  Hosting of a Movie Star  Mailing of Newsletter in Korean to churches (every two months)  Preparation of a New Brochure(s) in Korean for General Tour to Israel

Thank You! Gamsahamnida! IGTO Seoul27