The Tumen Working Group on Tourism was established in 1998, to identify and implement regional cooperation initiatives that significantly contribute to the development of tourism in the Tumen Region. The 4th meeting of the Working Group took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in July 2001. Major topics included development of multi-destination tours to the Tumen Region and simplification of border-crossing procedures. The decisions reached at the meeting have been reflected in a revised action plan, developed by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) as part of a US$ 210000 project funded by UNDP to develop tourism products in the Tumen Region.
The one-year WTO project resulted in an in-depth profile of the characteristics, product interest and facility-service requirements of the region's potential markets, and a coordinated tourism product development strategy that takes into account the relationship between tourism products, markets, and ongoing development plans. The product-market match and product development strategies will help the region to move from supply-pushed to market-driven product development. The project also addresses two other issues considered key to overcoming the impediments to tourism development in the region, namely air accessibility and standardized regional tourism data for planning and marketing purposes.
Following the study, a seminar was held in April in Yanji, China, for Tumen Region travel agencies, tour operators and local governments. The aim of the meeting was to establish a network of tour operators and determine priority routes for multi-destination tourism in the Tumen Region. Development of a tour between Hunchun (China), Rason (DPRK) and Khasan (Russia) is considered a priority. In addition, a Tumen River cruise service is expected to open in Hunchun this summer, in cooperation with tourism administrations in DPRK and Russia.
The most significant growth in cross-border passenger traffic in the Tumen Region in recent months has been at the Hunchun-Kraskino crossing between China and Russia. Improved efficiency and increased customs and immigration opening hours have encouraged cross-border travel, and in 2001 China's tourism authorities decided to include the Russian Federation in the list of approved destinations for Chinese tourists. An increase in the transit time allowed in Russia has been proposed for ROK visitors travellign on the Sokcho-Zarubino-Hunchun route which was established in 2000, to enable ROK transit tourists to include Vladivostok in their itinerary. Travel to Mongolia has also been facilitated, with visa on arrival now available at Ulaanbaatar aiprot.
The number of international visitors to the Tumen Region continued to grow in 2001, albeit not as spectacularly as the year before (91% and 87% in Yanbian Prefecture and rimorsky Territory, respectively). In 2001, there were over 167000 international visitors to Yanbian Prefecture, over 173000 to Primorsky Teritory, and over 192000 to Mongolia. 2001 figures for the Rajin-Sonbong Economic and Trade Zone (DPRK) are not yet available, but the Zone also receives a considerable number of international tourists and business visitors (over 121000 in 2000).
Tour Expo 2001 took place in Osaka, Japan, in September. In recognition of the significant turism resources of the Tumen Region, the Osaka International Trade Fair Commission provided a free promotional booth for the Tumen Programme to help raise the region's profile. The Tour Expo was a good opportunity for representatives from the local tourism administrations to present the Tumen Region and develop partnerships with members of the travel industry.
The next meeting of the Tourism Working Group will take place in Yanji in the first week of September 2002, coinciding with the 50the anniversary celebrations of Yanbian Prefecture.