Seoul, New York to launch joint tourism marketing

SEOUL (Yonhap) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday agreed to launch joint city marketing activities with New York City as part of efforts to increase the world's awareness of South Korea and its capital, officials said.
Seoul and New York City's main tourism and travel agency, NYC & Company, signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation for joint city marketing, they said.
It said the memorandum was inked between Kwon Young-gyu, acting mayor of Seoul, and George Fertitta, head of the NYC & Company.
"We are actively trying to increase the world's awareness of Seoul by increasing the budget for overseas city marketing by 10 times," Kwon said. "This pact will become a new chance to make the world pay attention to Seoul."
Under the MOU, the two sides will run each other's city marketing advertisements in public places and on Web sites, according to the local government.
If the main agreement is signed, Seoul will become the first Asian city to hold joint city marketing activities with New York City, officials said. Other cities that signed a similar agreement with the American city were London, Madrid and Sao Paulo.
Seoul and New York City will run outdoor ads promoting each other at their major tourist destinations for about a month starting in October.
Seoul will advertise under the slogan, "Indefinitely yours, SEOUL," on a big LED screen in New York's Times Square and at 70 bus stops across the city.
In Seoul, 133 bus and taxi stops will run New York's city marketing ad, with the phrase "This is New York City," according to the MOU.
The two sides will also put similar banner ads on each other's Web sites.