(Seoul = Open News Agency) Reporter Choi Ji-hye = Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Seoul Tourism Organization CEO Gil Ki-yeon, and Seoul City Council Vice Chairman Nam Chang-jin expressed their aspirations, saying, “We will do our best to advance the era of 30 million foreign tourists announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.” revealed

The Seoul Tourism Organization (CEO Gil Gi-yeon) held the '2023 Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM)' at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) for five days from the 20th to the 24th to promote the recovery of international tourism demand and revitalize the tourism industry. In the era of endemic, we are going to promote tourism in earnest.

The opening ceremony held at DDP in the afternoon of the 21st was attended by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Seoul Tourism Organization CEO Gil Ki-yeon, Seoul City Council Vice Chairman Nam Chang-jin, and 135 overseas buyers and 72 domestic sellers in the tourism industry, and more than 200 people from the tourism industry.

Gil Ki-yeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization, said, "768 tourism companies from over 50 countries, including major Asian market countries and Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, have registered online and offline. This is an increase of about 27% compared to last year." introduced about.

Gil said, "We have greatly increased the number of foreign buyers and celebrities invited. We directly invited 135 buyers from 33 countries to Seoul, a 55% increase from last year's 87. The number of pre-consultation applications alone reached 2,700."

CEO Gil said, “I am sure it will serve as a foundation for reopening the door to revitalize tourism in Seoul.” ) was together. Not only that, but we also look forward to being reborn as a venue for win-win growth in Seoul and other regions by promoting local areas such as Busan, Daegu, Gangwon-do, and Iksan."

Representative Gil said, "I hope that you will experience the latest Seoul lifestyle as well as great business results as you meet face-to-face. In the future, Seoul International Travel Mart will continue to make more efforts to build a network of domestic and foreign tourism industries and become a key event for the development of tourism in Seoul." I'll do it," he concluded his greeting.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "Seoul has become a 'hip' city, a tourist destination that attracts attention from all over the world.

Mayor Oh said, “Seoul City set an ambitious goal of reaching 30 million tourists last year. I will work on the tourism industry. I will try to make Seoul a tourism city that fills the souls of people around the world, just like the city's new motto, 'Seoul, my soul.'

On this day, Mayor Oh also presented a certificate of commendation from the mayor to airport bus driver Jang Kwon-soon and citizen Kim Bok-hyeon for finding foreign tourists' wallets and bags.

Jang Kwon-soon, an airport bus driver working at Korea Airport Limousine, found a Russian tourist's wallet with 3 million won in cash on his bus on May 7th. I found a bag of a Chinese tourist with 5 million won in it.

Mayor Oh said, "An environment where tourists visiting foreign cities can travel safely is an essential element of an advanced tourist city." told

Nam Chang-jin, vice chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, said, “We must make Seoul a city of infinite charm. We have K-content that the world has focused on, such as K-pop, K-drama, and K-food. People from all over the world are interested in and like Seoul. Building up-to-date tourism infrastructure that shows the lifestyle will be an alternative to revitalize Seoul tourism.”

Meanwhile, 2023 SITM will be held simultaneously at DDP and online, and will consist of various programs such as a buyer pre-familiarization tour, a B2B business consultation, an opening ceremony, a tourism promotion booth operation, and a Seoul tourism seminar.