Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon on July 11 gives a speech at the site of “Korea Week” in Madrid, Spain. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
By Lee Jihae
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon has visited the site of “Korea Week” in Madrid, Spain, to promote Korea and Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo.
The culture ministry on July 12 announced that he held talks on July 11 with Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Maria Reyes Maroto on bilateral cooperation and tourism exchanges.
Minister Park told Minister Maroto, “Busan has abundant experience in hosting international events like the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and the Korea-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summits.”
“If Busan hosts the World Expo, it will become the stage for solving the international community’s challenges and tasks such as climate change, the health crisis and polarization of cutting-edge technology,” he added, urging Spain’s active support and cooperation.
Minister Maroto responded by saying, “We have meticulously reviewed the candidate sites for the 2030 World Expo, and we think that Busan is a candidate with many strengths.”
She added that she expects a “positive outcome.”
Spanish Secretary of State for Tourism Fernando Valdes said, “As the secretary of state for tourism, I express active support for Busan’s bid for the World Expo.”
Both Spanish officials also asked for Korea’s active support for Spain’s candidacy to host the 2027 International Exposition in Malaga, a southern municipality in the European country.
Minister Maroto said, “The two countries are extremely important companions in tourism.”
“The establishment of a tourism bureau in Korea is one of the main goals of Spain’s tourism policy next year. We plan to open a tourism bureau in Seoul next year and expand practical tourism cooperation.”
Minister Park said, “The majority of Koreans consider Spain a country they want to visit or re-visit.”
“For bilateral cooperation in tourism, we welcome Spain’s establishment of a tourism bureau in Seoul.”
Minister Maroto said, “Similar to the successful holding of ‘Korea Week’ in Madrid this time, we want to hold a ‘Spain Week’ in the first half of next year in Seoul.”
Minister Park said, “We will provide well-structured support for the success of that event.”
jihlee08@korea.kr
