Last year, both Korea and Japan saw a vast growth in their respective tourism industries. When combining the results of two countries, it turns out that they saw about 5 million tourists from each other.

Now wonder that the culture ministers of both countries are now making new efforts in order to further promote tourism between the two. Indeed, on 28th of April in Seoul, the two culture ministers officially declared a year of tourism exchange open.

eTurboNews quotes the Korean Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister, Jang-sil.

“I believe this year’s joint projects will greatly contribute to attracting visitors. And as the relations between Korea and Japan deepen, the Northeast Asian community will come together and develop as a whole.”

There are also plans to develop the sister cities of Jeonju in Korea and Kanazawa in Japan. Japan’s Deputy Vice-Minister for Tourism Policy, Honpo Yoshiyaki, highlighted the importance of international relations between peoples.

“It’s important to get to like each other through exchange. For instance, if Jeonju citizens find Japan amiable, then other Koreans could later feel the same way. This kind of sentiment is the core of exchange.”

Success already seems to be apparent. The cities plan to attract 10 million tourists by 2012.

Photo:© shinyai

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