On Sept. 13, a tour group consisting of 1,363 people arrived at the Jeju International Airport, to be followed by seven more groups of around 1,400 people each on Sept. 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, and 23. Employees of the China-based healthcare product company the Baojian Group, spent four days on Jeju Island, with another two days in Seoul as part of their trip.
This is the largest business tour in Jeju’s MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) industry history. During a press conference held in an Jeju provincial office on Sept. 15, Baojian’s CEO Li Dao hinted that there would be many more visits to Jeju. Li added that the number of people who are coming to the island this time is only one-tenth of all of the company’s employees.
In September 2009, the Baojian Group abruptly changed their tour destination from Japan to Taiwan due to a then (and still on-going) territorial dispute over the Diaoyudao Islands (Japan name, Senkaku Islands) between the two nations. Jeju Governor Woo Keun Min’s visit to the Baojian headquarters twice late last year was a decisive factor in this year’s destination switch from Japan to Jeju Island, according to Li.
In commemoration of this being the largest incentive tour to date, the Jeju provincial government decided to change the name of No Car Street in Yeondong Shin Jeju to Baojian Street for the next five years. Li showed his surprise on this decision by Jeju Island during the press conference, and added that many tour participants have enjoyed shopping on the newly christened Baojian Street.
On Sept. 15, the Baojian incentive tour welcoming ceremony was held on Baojian Street. In attendance was Jeju Governor Woo, Korea Tourism Organization CEO Lee Cham, Jeju Provincial Assembly Chairman Moon Dae Lim, Baojian Group CEO Li Dao, and around 1,400 people mostly from the Baojian incentive tour group. The ceremony’s highlight was the unveiling of a special dolhareubang statue on which the words Baojian Street are engraved. <Jeju Weekly>
<By Kim Soo Yang viancca@jejuweekly.comⓒ Jeju Weekly All rights reserved>
