It is hard to neglect the influence that Hallyu, Korean wave, has for the world, especially when it emerged its market into not only Asia, but also Europe and America. Even though people cannot understand the language, they still enjoy Korean songs and dramas.

Travel blog, Travelscope, mentioned how K-pop helps tourism industry. SM , one of the largest entertainment companies in Korea, smartly applies the popularity of their artists as parts of its marketing.

 In early 2012, it opened its own travel agency, SMTown Travel. Compared to other agencies, it features unique travel packages that introduce Korea with the aspect from k-pop and dramas. It also helps fans to plan trip for oversee concerts.  In order to expand its global market, the company had also acquired BT&I, the largest travel agency in Korea.

It is interesting to see how the Hallyu can influence the economy of Korea, when foreign travelers also contribute to the economy indirectly, especially when buying products that advertised by their favorite artists. Companies clearly know what fans expected, which helps introduce products and service that satisfied consumers’ needs.

Sources:
“Travel News: Top Reasons Why K-pop Is Helping Korea’s Tourism Industry.” Travel News: Top Reasons Why K-Pop Is Helping Korea’s Tourism Industry.  Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.travelscope.ca/post/view/travel-news-top-reasons-why-k-pop-is-helping-korea-s-tourism>.

Cha, Frances. “Harnessing K-Pop for Tourism.” CNNGo.com. N.p., 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/harnessing-k-pop-tourism-386868>.

Pictures:
http://www.smtowntravel.com/image/common/main_visual.jpg
http://www.allkpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/20121015_yg_sm_jyp_family.jpg