Paju getaway: a calming bonsai garden

On a small hill in the northern Gyeonggi Province city of Paju, Soulone, a newly opened tree garden, could become a key attraction in the border city. Close to some popular destinations such as Imjingak ― a park just 7 kilometers from the DMZ ― and the dynamic cultural scenes in Heyri Art Village and Paju Book City, the garden is an accessible and inviting respite from city life.Soulone is home to some rare forms of garden trees, bonsai trees and viewing stones that are part of the collection Le

Sept. 27, 2013

Oakwood Premier Coex Center to unveil new look after renovation

Oakwood Premier Coex Center, the leading serviced residence in Seoul, has embarked on a renovation project to offer a more guest-friendly experience 11 years after its opening. The 20 billion won ($18 million) renovation, which started in March, is transforming the classical interior of its 280 residences into a more chic and modern design that allows international travelers to stay comfortably in style. It is expected to be completed by October 2015.  Oakwood Premier Coex Center has undergone t

Sept. 23, 2013

Chinese tourists to hit record high during National Day holiday

A record number of Chinese tourists will arrive in Korea during the weeklong National Day holiday in the first week of October, the peak season for overseas travel for the Chinese. Around 150,000 Chinese tourists are expected to travel to Korea from Oct. 1-7, up 50 percent from the previous year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.The forecast is based on the continued surge of Chinese visitors to Korea in recent months. In July and August, the number of Chinese tourists jumped by aroun

Sept. 16, 2013

Hollywood studio teaches dogs how to fly

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― For $349, your dog can learn to fly.One Hollywood film studio now prepares dogs for a safe and calm flight.The Air Hollywood class includes a real fuselage on a sound stage with a simulator that mimics takeoff, turbulence and landing. Hollywood extras create crowds and the chaos that come with airport terminals.Talaat Captan, president and CEO of Air Hollywood, the world’s largest aviation-themed film studio, had the idea after noticing a dog owner having a rough time getting

Sept. 13, 2013

Pyramids quiet on visit to crisis-hit Egypt

CAIRO (AP) ― The lone tourist bus curved through the desert past the limestone-topped Pyramid of Khafre, leaving the camel handlers and postcard sellers trudging through its dust. It rounded one last turn, then settled atop a plateau overlooking the pyramid and its two mammoth siblings.The bus door flapped open, unleashing a dozen Chinese tourists into the empty parking lot. They strolled toward the plateau’s edge, cameras and parasols in hand, just ahead of the vendors scrambling at the prospec

Sept. 13, 2013

‘Philippine tourism focuses on friendly people and quality’

The Philippines is a popular travel destination, attracting millions of visitors year-round to its beautiful beaches and natural wonders. But in promoting tourism, the Philippines has taken an emotional approach that is not directly related to physical attractions. The tourism campaign slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” touches on the true image of the country ― its people and the fun they create, according to the Philippines Tourism Department Secretary Ramon Jimenez. “It’s the fundament

Sept. 11, 2013

Revisiting the mystique of Silla

This is the ninth installment in an 11-part series that introduces some of the best walking trails in Korea. Based on each trail’s popularity and the recommendations of travel experts and the Culture Ministry, The Korea Herald selected the 10 best places for walking and hiking. The series received funding from the Korea Press Foundation. ― Ed.Home to some of the most exquisite ancient relics in the country, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has long been the top destination for school trips i

Sept. 11, 2013

Blair points to tourism as key to removing barriers

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s Asia Summit kicked off its inaugural year by hosting its first gathering at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Tuesday. The WTTC works to raise awareness of tourism and travel as one of the world’s largest industries, generating nine percent of the world’s GDP.“This dynamic and vibrant city is known for its advancing technology,” said WTTC Chairmen Michael Frenzel. “It is the 11th ranking and fastest growing tourist economy in the world ... so it is only fitting tha

Sept. 10, 2013

[Photo News] PATA Forum

Sept. 9, 2013

A quirky second life for the vintage Bagdad in Portland, Oregon

PORTLAND, Oregon ― Greetings from fast-changing Portland. On your right, note the dozens of breweries and distilleries, none of which existed until the other day. On your left, take care not to provoke the bicyclists, who may control everything by the day after tomorrow. If you’d like to feed them, locavore treats and artisan coffee only, please.And now to today’s postcard picture, just ahead among the hippies and hipsters of the Eastside’s Hawthorne neighborhood: the Bagdad Theater & Pub, built

Sept. 6, 2013

‘Rural-20’ sheds light on Korea beyond Seoul

It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of tourists to Korea never leave Seoul. Aiming to expose more tourists to the beauty and cultural richness of Korea’s nonmetropolitan areas, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has developed the “Rural-20” program for easy travel to these areas and activities offering a taste of rural life. In March 2010, the ministry, after a series of trips and deliberations, announced its list of 20 villages that best represent the country’s rural

Sept. 5, 2013

Mungyeongsaejae trail breathes history

This is the eighth installment in an 11-part series that introduces some of the best walking trails in Korea. Based on each trail’s popularity and the recommendations of travel experts and the Culture Ministry, The Korea Herald selected the 10 best places for walking and hiking. The series received funding from the Korea Press Foundation. ― Ed.Hundreds of years ago, seonbi, literati of the Joseon era (1392-1910), walked hundreds of kilometers from the Gyeongsang region to sit the civil service e

Sept. 4, 2013