SummaryΣ㧚Trends and outlook of tourism exchange between Japan and South Korea
Tourism exchange between Japan and South Korea, structurally altered by the dawn of 21stcentury from the era of Japanese dominated one-way tourism to reciprocally bustling environmentof bi-directional exchange, though widespread underlying tone of fluctuation caused by change ofexternal environment having an impact on economy and safety observed every year.
At present, both countries are engaged not only in tourism exchange but also political, economy,
cultural, sports and various exchanges and shore up solidarity at a good pace. It is said that theJapan-South Korea relation entered a new phase by transcending the past time perception of “nearbut remote” countries. Nevertheless, Japan-South Korea relations are not trouble-free due tohistorical perceptions and expected to address such problems by deepening mutual understanding
and relationship through tourism exchange on grassroots level of society.
Τ㧚Brief overview of trends of tourism exchange between Japan and South Korea and survey
focusing on Fukuoka – Busan
Amid lively tourism exchange between Japan and South Korea, Fukuoka and Busan, a hub of
Kyushu and Southern part of South Korea, embedding Tsushima Strait in between them, and by
exploiting geographical proximity managed to generate vibrant tourism exchange and traffic withno real precedent in Japan that uses vessel as a major means of transportation.
In light of this trend, URC implemented questionnaire survey targeting users of high-speed
vessel route between Fukuoka and Busan for 3 years starting from 2007 and accumulated a wealthof researched material to enlighten the actual condition and issues associated with tourism
exchange over time between Japan and South Korea.This report is based on analysis of same
survey along with comparative verification and dissection of tendencies and issues tourism trendsof Japanese and South Korean passengers, examine ways to expand tourism exchange based on
acquired knowledge thereby to solidify relations between Japan and South Korea.
Υ㧚Tourism trends of Japanese passengers
The outcome of the survey on sightseeing trends revealed that, majority of Japanese passengers
appears to have a characteristic feature of excursion in a limited range of area within the midmostof Busan city for one night and two days short term stay after disembarking at Busan harbor. Agreat majority of Japanese passengers cite “gourmet” and “shopping” as their objective of visit andcontent of experience; while much lesser number visit “historical and cultural heritage sites”.
Hence, it is evident that majority of Japanese visitors accounts for mainstream urban tourism
staying in Busan where “gourmet” and “shopping” represents as their center of attention.
However, an increased rate of respondents appeared to prefer a menu of “hands-on-experience /exchange” and “historical cultural heritage sites” over “gourmet” and “shopping” when asked
visiting next time onwards. Provision of ample “hands-on-experience / exchange” type ofsightseeing options in South Korea, overhauling preparations to welcome Japanese tourists at“historical and cultural heritage sites” and dissemination of information, will play vital role to link
the expansion of tourism exchange and enriching relations in between these countries.
Φ㧚Tourism trends of South Korean passengers
The outcome of the survey on sightseeing trends revealed that, majority of South Korean

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passengers exhibit a characteristic feature of travelling around tourist spots, historic sites and cities
not only in Fukuoka but also other prefectures within Kyushu, visiting hot springs and staying for
two nights and three days within Kyushu where circular tour accounts for the mainstream leisuretrip after disembarking at Hakata harbor. A great majority of South Korean passengers cite“sightseeing” was their objective of visiting and considerable rate of respondents declared“historical cultural heritage sites” and “hot springs” as for contents of experience.
Considerable rate of respondents preferred “hands-on experience / exchange” type of list ofactivities in the forthcoming trips. Overhauling list of options related to “hands-on experience /exchange” type of sightseeing not just limited to Kyushu but also other parts of Japan, preparations
to welcome South Korean tourists and dissemination of information will not only revive inboundtourism but also expected to link expansion of tourism exchange with deepening relations of bothnations.
Χ㧚Examining from survey of tourism trends of Japanese and South Korean passengers
Regarding sightseeing trends for Japanese-South Korean passengers, Japanese visitors accounts
for urban tourism staying for one night and two days in Busan city where “gourmet” “shopping”
are the center of attention, whereas South Korean visitors used to have two nights and three days
mainstream excursion within Kyushu.Such contrastive nature of sightseeing movement of Japaneseand South Korean tourists denotes as their point of difference. The manifestation of considerable
rate of South Koreans tourists visiting “historical cultural heritage sites” and low rate of Japanesevisitors on the other hand also added up to such point of difference of sightseeing custom.
Fukuoka and Busan, the foregrounds of Northern Kyushu and Southern part of South Korea,
which are preserving large numbers of “historical cultural heritages” of Japan-South Korea
interaction when serving as an exchange a root since ancient time for over 2,000 years, areexpected to utilize these heritages effectively as regional resources and pioneer plan advancing
mutual understanding and deepen relations to address lingering problems owing to historicalperception and unresolved at national level by means of interregional tourism exchange.
It was revealed that shared characteristics of sightseeing trends between Japanese and South
Korean passengers are found to be short-stay travel schedule, downsized travel expenses, anincrease in repeat customer status and private tour. In addition, “various kinds of exchange
activities”, “sports” and “event attendance / appreciation” scored substantial rate of response as
shared preference of experiences in the forthcoming trips.
With regard to areas in Japan and South Korea, overhauling the provision of ample“hands-on-experience / exchange” type of sightseeing options, preparations to welcome tourists anddissemination of information are expected to further expansion of tourism exchange and robust
relations for both countries.
Ψ㧚Japan and South Korea tourism exchange initiative at Tsushima
Tsushima, a remote island located in the Strait between Japan and South Korea, with the aim ofrevitalizing stagnant local economic society, took initiatives to harness local resources andproactively promoting tourism exchange with geographically and historically proximate South
Korea. Set up plans for Japanese and South Korean visitors to participate, organizing “hands-onexperience / exchange” based events and tours and utilizing special zoning system as a means todevelop manpower that will assume responsibility in the future Japan-South Korea exchange.
Beside conceiving expansion of Japan-South Korea tourism exchange and deepening relations, the3

idea of incorporating essential elements and perspectives are found to be fascinating
forward-thinking approach.
Ω㧚Analysis of South Korean passengers circular touring movement
Fukuoka is an originating point to other parts of Kyushu for South Korean tourists using
high-speed vessels.Fukuoka, Kumamoto (Aso), and Beppu (Yufuin) are identified as the principal
routes of circular tour in this area. However, when it comes to choice of place of stay, a tendency ofconcentrating around Fukuoka and Kumamoto observed.
Putting in mind ample accommodation facilities and radiating transportation network centering
Fukuoka city, it is suggestive that various localities had to devise a strategy that attracts guests.

2009 Fiscal Year (21st year of Heisei)
Investigative research on the making of collaborative society between Japan and South Korea
Focusing on Fukuoka and Busan
Research Reportsurvey conducted on tourism trends of(Japanese / South Korean tourists)
High-speed vessel passengers between Fukuoka and Busan
SummryMarch 2010
Fukuoka Asia Urban Research Center (URC)
Person in charge: Arai Naoki (Chief Researcher)(Writer of I, II, III, IV, V, VI chapters of the main volume)
Tamura Kazuki (Chief researcher)(Writer of chapter VII of the main volume)‫ޥ‬810-0001 Fukuoka City, Chuou-ku, Tenjin㧝-10-1
Phone

092-733-5686

E-mail: info@urc.or.jp

URL:

http://www.urc.or.jp

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