Seoul (VNA) – The Ministry of Culture, Sportsand Tourism of the Republic of Korea (RoK) announced on December 18 that itwill focus on attracting more visitors from Southeast Asia, as part of effortsto diversify its tourist portfolio after suffering a sharp drop in inboundforeigners as a result of a diplomatic row with China.

Speaking at a pan-government meeting convened by PrimeMinister Lee Nak-yon, the ministry’s representative said the government willconcentrate its policy efforts on promoting the country's tourism to peoplefrom Indonesia, Vietnam and India, as well as those from Taiwan and Hong Kongof China, and seek ways to simplify their entry into the country.

At the event, the RoK government also decided to preparemore high-value tour programmes for foreign visitors to seek a qualitativegrowth.

Other promotion measures include developing packages inconnection with "hallyu" - the Korean Wave of popular culture,expanding medical tours, and increasing facilities for cruise tours.

The RoK's tourism industry took a hit following China'sdecision to ban the selling of Korea-bound tourism packages since March in anapparent retaliation against the deployment of the US anti-missile system here.

Chinese nationals accounted for nearly half of the 17million foreigners who visited the country last year.

Late last month, China decided to partially lift itsprohibition as the two countries moved to restore their bilateral ties, butindustry watchers say it will take some time for Chinese tourists to actuallyreturn in large numbers.-VNA