Inayat-ur-Rahman, Business Editor

Korea Travel Night 2022, an extravagant show was held recently in Dubai marking South Korea’s aim to re-ignite the world of travel as it prepares to start tourism again to international tourists in a phased manner. The event was hosted by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Dubai branch office.

The Korea Tourism promotional booth in Korea Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai accumulated 530,000 visitors over the past three months as it further boosts its tourism with Hallyu influence.

The show was inaugurated by the CEO of Korea Tourism Organization, Youngbae Ahn, who is in the UAE accompanied by high-level delegation visiting UAE and Gulf region. The ceremony included several impressive show that are ‘Samulnori’ using traditional Korean musical instrument, drum performances with media art and a sand art ceremony highlighting KTO’s new slogan “Travel to Korea Begins Again!”.

The event witnessed over 200 participation including vice president of Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET), Hoor Al Khaja, furthermore, 27 major Korean corporates and government entities, 15 UAE based media channels, and 47 of leading DMCs in the region to meet, network and deepen the ties between the two countries for a brighter future and growth in the tourism industry.

Since founding a branch office in Dubai in 2004, Korea Tourism Organization has strived to market Korea as a must-see destination for Middle Eastern travelers. By organizing road shows, FAM trips for travel agencies, media, and influencers, hosting medical conventions, travel fairs and participating in major consumers’ exhibitions and events, KTO aspires to establish interactive relationships with the travel trade industry and potential tourists in the region.

South Korea has particularly made a strong progress in making the country even friendlier to Arab tourists. The Korean tourism authority has been dedicated to carefully implement guidelines in the aspects of Muslim-friendly restaurants around the nation and providing prayer rooms for Muslim tourists in major attractions, airports and shopping malls.

These endeavor brought 13,226 UAE tourists, and 35,054 GCC 6 countries tourists to visit Korea as of 2019. Moreover, 4,089 medical tourists visited Korea to experience excellent cutting-edge medical treatment and oriental medicines.

Korea has a huge fan base in the Gulf region and this is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. During the show, KTO assigned a total of 30 K-Club members and social media influencers as K-travel ambassador, “Hwarang”, a historical notion of elite youth in Korea. The new Hwarang’s mission is to show their love and support to various Korean aspects like tourism, K-pop, K-food, K-beauty and Korean events through offline and online mediums.

“Korea Travel Night was a series of events planned alongside EXPO to offer and acknowledge our support to the UAE travel industry, fan clubs, followers and several other enthusiasts following Korea.” commented  Hyunsun Hong, Regional Director of KTO Dubai office in UAE.

Over the past 40 years, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have built a multi-layered and close relationship across a variety of industries. The shared visions and goals between the two countries reinforce the future-oriented collaborations in tourism, healthcare, culture, education, energy and other sectors.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC-Colombia), is the organization that guides Colombia’s international cooperation, signed an agreement with Rwanda Cooperation Initiative (RCI), a public institution in charge of regulating and promoting socio-economic activities in Rwanda to help boost their countries’ sustainable development initiatives. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place after both parties, along with the German Development Institute, hosted a hybrid forum from January 18 to 19, 2022 during Expo 2020 Dubai´s Global Goals Week.

 The collaboration echoed the forum’s theme which focuses on South-South cooperation and how to increase the sustainable development contributions of the countries of the Global South. Viviana Manrique Zuluaga, Director of APC-Colombia, and Emmanuel Hategeka, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the UAE, inked the MoU which demonstrates the commitment of their respective organizations in accelerating sustainable growth not only of Colombia and Rwanda but the rest of the world as well.

Under the terms of the partnership, the two sides will exchange knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources to advance the global sustainable development movement. They will also collaborate to encourage and promote effective alliances with public, public-private and civil society entities, taking advantage of their experience and strategies in obtaining resources from partners.

“Colombia is aware that a strong global commitment is necessary for the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the set deadline. We believe that strategic alliances are vital especially during this pandemic which continues to profoundly transform our societies. The MoU signed on the sidelines of our hybrid forum reflects the shared goals of APC-Colombia and RCA to implement effective and genuine sustainable development initiatives that are vital to building an inclusive and sustainable future. This is also part of our response to the international calls to engage in a decade of action to deliver the SDGs by 2030. The forum and the MoU illustrated the willingness of our respective countries as well to implement key measures to attain the SDGs,” said Zuluaga.

Zuluaga added: “We also held the forum and signed the MoU to show our support for the Expo’s Global Goals Week. The Global Goals Week event had allowed all Expo participants, including Colombia, to explore the best way to work together to achieve sustainability. It was an ideal opportunity to connect and forge new ties for this purpose, as well as meet partner countries, engage in international philanthropy, discuss various sustainable development issues, and identify synergies and cooperation opportunities for Colombia.”

During the Global Goals Week, APC-Colombia presented its strategic 2022 commitments to international partners and entities participating at the Expo. The institution also took the opportunity to reinforce Colombia´s role as a requester and provider of cooperation among different partners of the Global South, Europe, Asia and North America. In addition, it identified new partners and innovative projects covering various fields and disciplines, including science and technology, environmental sustainability, economic revitalization, renewable energy, the ‘orange’ economy, tourism, and many more.

“At APC-Colombia, we work with our global allies through international cooperation to help achieve our country’s main development and sustainable development goals. This is our organization’s guiding principle,” Zuluaga said.

Since 2018, Colombia has been contributing to the attainment of the SDGs, especially those focusing on disparity reduction, peace, justice and solid institutions, zero hunger, health and well-being, and terrestrial ecosystems.

To support the country’s efforts to attain the SDGs, APC-Colombia has been in constant coordination with the United Nations, its agencies, funds and programs, multilateral banks, and more than 27 partners of Official Development Assistance and international philanthropy.