DRNew Delhi: The Union Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Government of the Republic of Korea in early November for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism. K J Alphons, Union Tourism Minister and Do Jong-hwan, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sports, Republic of Korea signed the MoU in the presence of officials from both the countries.
The MoU was signed to strengthen and further develop the established relationships for strengthening cooperation in the field of tourism.
The main objectives mentioned in the MoU are: to expand bilateral cooperation in tourism sector; increase exchange of information and data related to tourism; encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, including hotels and tour operators; establish exchange programmes for cooperation in human resources development; encourage investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors; exchange visits of tour operators/ media/opinion makers for promotion of two-way tourism and to promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism.
The Republic of Korea is one of the leading tourists generating market for India from East Asia. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) from the Republic of Korea in 2017 were 1,42,383 and during January-September, 2018 they stood at 1,08,901 (provisional figure). The signing of MoU with Korea will be instrumental in increasing tourist arrivals from this source market, according to an official statement.
