The Korea National Tourism Organization has opened a regular airline between Gimpo Airport, Seoul and Haneda Airport, Tokyo, on Nov. 30. To celebrate the first flight an entry welcoming ceremony will be held for Japanese tourists. 

This event will be held on Nov. 30, 12 p.m., in the lobby of the immigration section in the International Lines Building of Gimpo Airport. The Director of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other passengers from Japan will be the first to board the first plane (Japan Airlines flight JL8331, ETA 12:25) and bouquets and souvenirs will be presented to them to celebrate their safe arrival. Passengers aboard four other flights to arrive on the same day will also be presented with tourist pamphlets and gifts. 

The Gimpo-Haneda line was agreed at the Korea-Japan Summit Meeting held last June 7. Four regular round flights have been negotiated to start service on Nov. 30 and the four airlines to provide services are Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd., Asiana Airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). 

Duty-free shops under direct management with operation rights through an open bidding will open on the same day of initial flights, on the third floor of the International Lines Building. To activate usage of the new line, campaign advertisements and projects to invite directors of Japanese travel agents are being planned. 

From this year January till late October, total Japanese tourists have decreased 25% compared to the same period last year because of the outbreak of SARS. The new Gimpo-Haneda line is expected to increase the interchange activities between Korea and Japan and also restore the Japanese tourism market from stagnation. 

Source: Korea National Tourism Organization, November 25, 2003