SOUTH KOREA. Lotte Duty Free is to launch an online duty free offer at the Silk Road Cultural Festival in Gyeongju, which begins on 21 August.
The travel retailer last week signed a MOU with Gyeongju World Culture Expo. As part of its cooperation with local authorities in Gyeongsangbuk-do (the northern province in which Gyeongju is located) to encourage attendance at the festival and help stimulate tourism, Lotte will install its famed “˜Korean Wave’ experience centre “˜Star Avenue’ and open several online duty free shopping kiosks.
The event is expected to attract tourists from over 40 countries. Gyeongsangbuk-do is often described as Korea’s ‘cultural warehouse’, famous both for its natural beauty and heritage sites. The famous ancient city of Gyeongju is known as “˜the museum without walls’ and holds more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other South Korean location.
The MOU was signed at the Lotte Hotel, Seoul on 5 August by Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Governor Kwan-Young Kim, and Lotte Duty Free President Hong-Kyun Lee. Dong-Woo Lee, the Secretary General of Gyeongju World Culture Expo, also attended the ceremony.
 |
(Above and below) Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Governor Kwan-Young Kim (left) and Lotte Duty Free President Hong-Kyun Lee celebrate the signing of an important MOU that will stimulate attendance at the Silk Road Cultural Festival and help rejuvenate tourism to Gyeongsangbuk-do |
 |
Hong-Kyun Lee said: “I’m very glad that Lotte Duty Free has received credit for attracting foreign tourists and forming a partnership with Gyeongju World Culture Expo. We will endeavour to hold the festival successfully and to come up with various measures to revitalise local tourism as well.”
Kwan-Young Kim said: “I want this MOU to be a successful private and public joint model which revitalises Gyeongsangbukdo’s regional tourism. It is very encouraging that it has started with Lotte Duty Free, the number one Korean duty free shop operator.”
The 452sq m Star Avenue Gyeongju-Lotte Duty Free promotional hall will be installed on the first floor of the Expo Park Culture Center.
Star Avenue, already a major tourist attraction in Seoul, is an interactive multi-media “˜Korean Wave’ (K Wave) experience centre. Created by Lotte Duty Free, it offers images and interactive activities related to top Korean TV and pop stars.
Visitors will be able to enjoy star-studded Lotte Duty Free films featuring famous names on the giant screen installed on the hall’s outer wall. They can also take pictures in the Star Photo Zone which is adorned with the famous celebrity names who act as Lotte Duty Free’s faces and ambassadors.
Lotte Duty Free will install its online duty free shop in a main hall of the Expo where many of its most popular products will be on display. Customers can order via touch screen and pick up their items at the airport.
The Silk Road Cultural Festival is themed ‘Eurasia Cultural Express’ and will run for 59 days in Gyeongju’s EXPO Park.
Lotte Duty Free will continue to operate Star Avenue Gyeongju after the Expo finishes and plans to hold various exhibitions, events and performances that celebrate Gyeongju’s cultural heritage and help developed it as a world-renown tourist destination.
 |
Reach for the stars: Lotte Duty Free is taking its tried and tested Star Avenue formula to the Expo Hall, offering a range of entertainment options as well as the opportunity to buy duty free goods |
