▲This photo shows Miru Shiroma having an interview. (Yonhap)

 

▲This photo shows tour group. (Yonhap)

 

▲This photo shows tour group. (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, Sept.29 (Yonhap) -- "Konnichiwa" large tour group including Japanese idols visits Jeju island

Japanese greeting echoed through the international arrival hall of Jeju International Airport on the afternoon of Thursday.

For the first time since Japan announced to loosen the locks, tour group of 150 people including Japanese idols, influencers, and the press visited Jeju, S.Korean Island.

T'way Air chartered flight departed from Osaka, Japan at 10:20 a.m. and arrived at Jeju International Airport at 12:30 p.m.

This is a first chartered flight in three years and two months since it was completely suspended due to COVID-19.

The appearance of the Japanese tour group waving their hands brightly increased an expectation that things will soon return to pre-COVID-19 days of traveling freely between countries was

Jeju Island, Jeju Tourism Organization, Jeju Tourism Association, and Korea Tourism Organization held a welcoming event for the Fam Tour groups.

Jeju Island and the Tourism Organization gave out flower bouquets, eco-friendly travel kits, and tumblers to tourists, boosting the atmosphere.

Miru Shiroma, a former Japanese idol who appeared on Korea and Japan's collaborative reality competition show"Produce 48," was also one of the tourists of the Fam tour group.

She said,"I really like Korea, including Korean dramas and celebrities. I cam to promote the charm of Jeju through my social media account and to make lots of Japanese people to like Korea like me. I decided to participate as a member of the group," during an interview after arriving in the Jeju airport.

She also said, "It's my first time in Jeju," adding, "I have high expectations for the beautiful natural landscape and food. I will return home after eating a lot of delicious food in Jeju."

The tour group will experience Jeju's various tourist attractions such as its wellness tourism and Hallyu for 3 days and 2 nights until Oct. 1

TV Aichi Broadcaster, through this tour, plans to produce Jeju special program regarding Hallyu cultural contents by visiting tourist spots related to K-drama and K-pop, which are very popular in Japan.

Major Japanese press such as Yomiuri, Mainichi, Asahi, and Chunichi will publish various tourism contents of Jeju, while Japanese travel agencies such as HIS and Hankyu Travel will create Jeju tour.

More than 120 Japanese influencers will simultaneously promote the charm of Jeju by posting photos and reviews on their social media accounts.

As Miru Shiroma is popular among the MZ generation in Japan, there are high expectations that her promotions on social media will bring ripple effect.

Meanwhile, Japan announced that it will remove the limit of 50,000 entry per day from Oct. 11 and allow foreigners to travel to Japan without a visa.

T'way Air plans to resume direct flights between Jeju and Osaka beginning Nov. 11.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]