Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea has stepped up efforts toattract more tourists from Asian countries and ease its dependence on China forits tourism trade, according to Yonhap news agency.

The news agency reported that the country's tourism is bearing the bruntof what appears to be acts of retaliation by Beijing against Seoul's decisionreached in July to host a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery.

China has banned all package trips from China to the RoK, and Chinesecruises no longer make stopovers at local ports in popular touristdestinations. Chinese airlines have also cut back on RoK-bound flights.

In an effort to minimize the impact, the RoK’s central and provincialgovernments are working to lure more Southeast Asians and those from the MiddleEast, where Korean pop stars and TV drama series have gained huge popularity.

According to Yonhap, Busan, the RoK's largest port city, plans tobolster designing various tour programmes that target Middle Eastern visitors.

The city will also work with local businesses to develop medical andcruise tours for visitors from the Middle East, India, Mongolia and Russia.

North Chungcheong Province, which has Cheongju International Airport, ispushing to increase flights to Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia and Japan.

The culture ministry said it plans to hold tourism exhibitions inVietnam and Singapore next month to promote the RoK. 

Aside from state and provincial efforts, local firms, led by duty-freeoperators, are rushing to diversify their customer bases to tide over currentdifficulties. Hanwha Galleria, the duty-free unit of Hanwha Group, recentlyclinched deals with two travel agencies in the Middle East to secure foreigncustomers.

It also plans to work with local hospitals to offer medical treatmentservices for Middle Eastern visitors as part of their tour programmes.-VNA