A growing number of Korean holiday seekers are visiting Macau, with Korea becoming the popular destination’s seventh-largest visitor source market.
Macau Senado Square
According to the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), “In 2007, Macau welcomed 225,417 visitors from Korea, a 38.5 percent year-on-year growth.
And in the first four months of 2008, “Korean visitor arrival figures showed rapid growth, recording 111,297 visitors to Macau with an outstanding increase of 57.57 percent, ranking fifth among the top 10 visitor-generating markets for Macau.”
In the past, visitors to Macau ? a Special Administration Region of China ? were mainly from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. But Koreans are rapidly joining that group.
Moreover, there are a few companies located in Taipa, one of the islands linking Macau city and Coloane.
Recently, companies have begun catering to Koreans. Some, located mainly in the Nape, a popular area comprised of hotels and casinos, have begun to use only the Korean language. A few Korean restaurants have also sprung up in the area, at which a mostly-Korean clientele can be found.
Many Korean visitors arrive carrying not only their luggage but also their golf bags. These enthusiasts can go directly from the airport to the course in a matter of minutes. Many Korean tourists come on Friday and return on Monday morning, taking advantage of an Air Macau offer, the return flight of which departs after midnight. They are able to arrive at Incheon International Airport and go directly to work.
The tourism culture here is beginning to change from its reputation as a gambling-only destination.
Macau is an old, unique city that has over 400 years of history. The Historic Centre of Macau joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. Tourists can enjoy meandering in the downtown area and taking photos of the monuments. When tired, they are able to sit by the old churches and eat the famous egg tart with a cup of European coffee.
The popularity of Korean TV dramas throughout Asia can also be witnessed in Macau. Both the popular “The Princess Hours” (2006, MBC) and the big hit of the year, “Boys over Flowers” (2009, KBS), were filmed here.
Courtesy. Korea Times
