Last year was a important one for both Korea and Japan, as the two countries saw a combined number of almost five million tourists from one another. And tourism ministers from both countries took a different step to advance the already bloom tourist diligence.
On Monday, the two culture ministries jointly held a declaration ceremony in capital of South Korea to formally establish a year-long project of exchange, ranging from travel and conventions to sports.

This February, the 1st ethnical exchange regarding traditional dancing took place in Seoul. Tourism officials, industry leaders and scholars attended the event where ministers from both countries advertised the grandness of the project.

Deputy Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Kim Jang-sil said, “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.”

Before by the ceremonial, attendants discussed ways to develop sister cities and reviewed successful cases including that of Korea’s Jeonju and Japan’s Kanazawa.

Japan’s Deputy Vice-Minister for Tourism Policy, Honpo Yoshiyaki, said, “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.”

Although both countries target to attract ten million tourists by 2012, it appears as if Korea may need to take a more participating role in advertising cities outside of Seoul and developing better travel packages to attract what is now a dwindling number of Japanese tourists to Korea.