South Koreans get warm welcome in Senai

Annyeonghaseyo: South Korean children thrilled with the reception at the Senai airport.

SENAI: About 160 South Korean tourists received a warm welcome at the Senai International Airport as they were among the first international visitors to enter the state after Visit Johor 2020 kicked off.

A cultural performance greeted them as they were presented with goodie bags when they walked out from the arrival hall.

Nurse Dainkim, 26, who came with her mother, cousin and aunt for a four-day trip, said she looked forward to exploring Johor and Malaysia as she had heard so much about it from her friends.

“I have been planning to travel to Malaysia for quite some time but the timing was never right due to work commitments. “I am very happy to be here” she said. Among the places in her “must go” list are Legoland and the Bukit Serene palace in Johor Baru.

Another tourist was businessman Lee Seung-won, 43. “This is my fourth time to Johor. This time, I will be spending about one month here so that I can visit other districts.

“My last few visits were too short to travel far from Johor Baru city” he said, adding that he would be visiting Muar, Batu Pahat as well as Mersing with his friends.

Welcoming the visitors were Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, state Tourism, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Liow Cai Tung, Senai assemblyman Tee Boon Tsong and Senai International Airport chief executive officer Md Derick Basir.

Liow said the state received 156,634 visitors as of November 2019. “In 2018, we received 167,440 tourists from South Korea.

“The frequency of Johor Baru-Incheon flights has also been increased from seven a week to 14” she said, adding that these additional flights would continue until March in view of the winter season there.

Apart from the airport here, visitors arriving at 12 other entry points of the state were also given a warm welcome on the first day of 2020.

-thestar online.