Rain, Kim JH, YB to perform at Yeosu Expo

YB Band (The Korea Herald)

Top Korean singers and groups will hold concerts at the Yeosu Expo this weekend, the organizing committee said on Tuesday. 

Rain, currently serving in the military, will be the first to go on stage on Saturday, followed by rock-ballad singer Kim Jang-hoon on Sunday and YB Band on Monday. 

Rain (The Korea Herald)

The concerts will be held at 8:30 p.m. on a special stage built for concerts during the expo period. 

The special outdoor stage arena is capable of hosting an audience of 20,000. 

For Rain, it will be his first big concert in eight months since he joined the Army last October. 

According to the expo organizing committee, the singer is personally checking on lighting and sound and doing rehearsals to make it a perfect show. He is also planning a duet with singer Park Hyo-shin, who is also currently serving military duty as well. 

“Rain’s concert will be held against the backdrop of fantastic lights coming from a mega cruise liner on the sea and the Expo venue. It will offer the best moment for the audience,” said an official of the organizing committee. 

The concerts start at 8:30 p.m. and are free to Yeosu Expo visitors. 

DOT, CEB Seek More Korean Tourist Arrivals With Yeosu Expo

MANILA, Philippines --- The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) has partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the ongoing Yeosu Expo 2012 in Yeosu, South Korea, which runs until August 12, 2012.

An airline partner of the Philippine Pavillion, CEB shows its full support to tourism efforts by providing tickets, tour package rates and exposure to expo organizers, talents and travel agents throughout the three-month expo duration. It operates thrice daily flights from the Philippines to Seoul (Incheon) and eight weekly flights to Busan.

“As our top source of visitor traffic, the Korean market is of utmost importance to the Philippines' hospitality industry. Koreans accounted for nearly a quarter of the archipelago's tourism arrivals last year and they have been our number one market since 2006,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez.

DOT reports indicate that 925,000 Koreans visited the Philippines in 2011, a 25% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, CEB flew more than 380,000 passengers to and from South Korea, a 51% passenger increase compared to 2011.

“The Yeosu Expo has a marine sustainability theme, which is perfect for the Philippine islands’ inherent wealth in coastal and marine treasures. We are investing in a principal site in the Pacific Ocean Zone to best capture over 80,000 average daily expo visitors,” added Jimenez.

DOT’s Yeosu Expo participation is just one initiative to reach 2 million Korean arrivals by 2016. CEB seat sales as low as 50% off, lowest year round air fares as low as KRW99,000 (P3,999), and creative tour packages, also play a part in stimulating travel to the country.

“Despite their relative affluence, Koreans appreciate value-for-money fares in their purchase of air tickets. Similarly, the proliferation of Korean operators and establishments is bringing down rates that appeal to even more travelers,” Jimenez said.

CEB, for its part, highlights various Philippine destinations to Yeosu Expo visitors, such as Busuanga (Coron), Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, San Jose (Apo Reef), Dumaguete (Apo Island), and Puerto Princesa (Tubbataha Reef).

“The Cebu Pacific team is excited to work closely with DOT and other government agencies in promoting the Philippines’ world-class dive sites and island destinations. It will also continue to offer the lowest fares from South Korea direct to Manila and Cebu so more Koreans can visit and explore the country,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Its fleet of 38 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 22 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013.

Yeosu Expo to yield 2-M Korean tourists for PHL

he Department of Tourism is eyeing 2 million Korean arrivals by 2016 as a result of its participation in the ongoing Yeosu Expo 2012 in South Korea which runs until Aug. 12.

In joining Yeosu Expo, the DOT has partnered with flag carrier Cebu Pacific. The airline will  provide expo organizers, talents and travel agents with tickets, tour package rates and exposure during the three-month expo.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said as the country's top source of visitor traffic, the Korean market is of utmost importance to the Philippine hospitality industry.

“Koreans accounted for nearly a quarter of the archipelago's tourism arrivals last year and they have been our number one market since 2006,” Jimenez said.

Tourism data showed that 925,000 Koreans visited the Philippines in 2011, up 25 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, CEB flew more than 380,000 passengers to and from South Korea, a 51-percent increase compared to 2010.

Jimenez said the Yeosu Expo has a marine sustainability theme, which is perfect for the Philippine islands’ inherent wealth in coastal and marine treasures.

"We are investing in a principal site in the Pacific Ocean Zone to best capture over 80,000 average daily expo visitors,” Jimenez said.

“Despite their relative affluence, Koreans appreciate value-for-money fares in their purchase of air tickets. Similarly, the proliferation of Korean operators and establishments is bringing down rates that appeal to even more travelers,” Jimenez said.

CEB, for its part, highlights various Philippine destinations to the expo visitors, such as Busuanga (Coron), Cebu, Boracay, Bohol, San Jose (Apo Reef), Dumaguete (Apo Island), and Puerto Princesa (Tubbataha Reef).

Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution, said CEB is excited to work closely with DOT and other government agencies in promoting the country's top tourist spots.

She said CEB would also continue to offer the lowest fares from South Korea direct to Manila and Cebu so more Koreans can visit and explore the country.

CEB operates thrice-daily flights from the Philippines to Seoul (Incheon) and eight weekly flights to Busan. Seat sales as low as 50-percent off, with lowest year-round air fares as low as 99,000 Korean won (P3,999).

The Philippine exhibit carries the theme “Islands of Diversity, Seas of Connectivity” to entice tropical holiday seekers, honeymooners and other special interest groups such as divers and beach enthusiasts, which make up a majority of Korean tourists. —VS, GMA News