The ASEAN-Korea Center organized a Korean Language Training Course from Nov. 12 in Bangkok, Thailand, for Thai tourism professionals to increase their Korean language ability and help them better tailor travel services for Korean tourists.

The language program is offered in many member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the center said in a statement in November.

The ASEAN-Korea Center is an intergovernmental organization and aims to increase trade volume, accelerate investment flow, invigorate tourism and enrich cultural exchanges between the ASEAN member states and Korea.

The Korean language course was held in five countries including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam this year. The same course will be extended to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore next year.

Participants from both the public and private sector of each country’s tourism industry take part in the 10-week course. A series of lectures on reading, listening, writing and conversation for basic Korean are also available.

The course also provides practical expressions relating to the tourism industry that can be used by tourism professionals, the center said.

Located in the center of Southeast Asia, Thailand is a top tourist attraction with its deep heritage of Buddhism against the backdrop of a beautiful natural environment.

Bangkok is well recognized by Korean travelers and the world as a leading travel destination in Asia.

The number of Korean visitors to Thailand exceeded 1 million in 2011.

The ASEAN-Korea Center said it expects courses that enhance Thai tourism professionals’ Korean language proficiency to enhance tourism cooperation between Thailand and Korea.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)