Surge In South Korean Visitors To Malaysia

By Ahmad Zukiman Zain KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- The increasing number of South Koreans and Malaysians visiting each other’s country augurs well for people-to-people exchange, says South Korean Ambassador to Malaysia Cho Byungjae. “In the first-half of the year, we saw a surge of more than 35 per cent of Koreans coming to Malaysia and similarly, more Malaysians are visiting Korea. “This is very good as I always believe people-to-people exchange is the most important thing,” he said during a courtesy call on Bernama General Manager Yong Soo Heong at Wisma Bernama here Tuesday. The number of South Koreans who visited Malaysia last year was 207,727, and until April this year, it had already reached 130,000, up more than 35 per cent per month average as compared to the same period last year. Some 270,000 Malaysians visited South Korea last year. The ambassador highlighted the optimistic figures when Yong mentioned about the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) efforts to woo more South Korean tourists with the launch of the 5th Asian Bird Fair (ABF) at Wisma Bernama Monday. Come Nov 29 and 30, the legendary island will host the first-ever event in Malaysia organised by the Malaysian Nature Society, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia and Bernama. Lada officials had visited Nami island in South Korea and received favourable response after they made presentations of the many attractions in Langkawi. The ambassador said Nami Island and Langkawi had a sister relationship. “As far as I know, there is a Langkawi monument or kind of place to remind them that there is a place called Langkawi. “So, those who go to Nami Island can see that that there is Langkawi, so it is a kind of advertisement,” he said. Nami Island is famous for its beautiful tree lanes and was the venue where the Winter Sonata drama was shot. -- BERNAMA