Vanilla Islands member, Reunion Island, made a big impact on the Korean World Travel Fair in Seoul, the South Korean capital city, where last week some 120,000 visitors streamed through the exhibition halls.
The Reunion Island Tourism (IRT) stand was in demand by both tourism trade visitors as well as members of the public, giving the team in attendance the chance to interact directly with consumers as well as the travel agency staff who put the logistics for visits together and act as point-of-sale representatives.
While at present only some 200 South Koreans visited Reunion last year, the island’s tourism office has projected some 5,000 visitors from South Korea in a few years’ time already, making the presence at KOTFA important to showcase the attractions Reunion Island holds to the Korean public and media.
The visitors from Korea are said to be keen on an active adventure holiday, something Reunion Island can provide in plenty, giving the rugged interior of the island where hiking and biking trails are available and where activities spanning from white water rafting to paragliding are popular.
The stand presented Reunion’s tourism attractions but also displayed spices, rum, and vanilla, and offered servings to visitors at the stand.
The efforts clearly paid off as the Reunion Island stand won the overall prize awarded by the organizers for “Best Tourism Marketing,” to the delight of the exhibitors present at the stand.
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| Award presentation |
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| Busy Reunion Island stand |
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| Isn’t she a beauty? |
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| Smile! |
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| Thank you for stopping by! |
At the closing ceremony of the exhibition, Stephane Bonneau, Procurement Officer Asia, Indian Ocean, together with the Regional Manager of the IRT, Dong Chang Jeong, received the award for Best Tourism Marketing awarded by the organizers. This award recognized the promotional activities carried out by the IRT in the market in order to develop the Korean market, particularly among the general public, tourism trade professionals, and the local media. Stephane Bonneau responded to the award by saying: “It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of the IRT. Korea has great potential to provide a stable and sustainable market for Reunion in this part of Asia.”
Also present at the Korean World Travel Fair was fellow Vanilla Island member, Seychelles, which had a stand next to Reunion Island, both holding up the national as well as the Vanilla Island interests.
