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Aug. 2 formal end to MERS outbreak in S. Korea: Jeju governor

July 24, 2015

BEIJING, July 24 (Yonhap) — The provincial governor of South Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju, Won Hee-ryong, said Friday that he expects South Korea to declare a formal end to the outbreak of MERS around Aug. 2.

Gov. Won made the remarks during a meeting of a group of South Korean correspondents in Beijing, where he met with executives of Chinese travel firms to help lure Chinese tourists back to the island.

“As far as we predict, if there are no variables, declaring a formal end (to the outbreak of MERS) could be possible around Aug. 2,” Won said.

South Korea’s tourism industry has been reeling from the outbreak of MERS, with many foreign tourists canceling planned trips to the country.

Since the first case of the virus was reported in South Korea on May 20, 186 people have been infected, 36 of whom have died. No additional cases of the virus have been reported since July 4.

Known for its beaches, forests and ancient volcanic cones, Jeju is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea for Chinese tourists.

Won admitted that MERS has battered the island’s tourism industry.

“After the outbreak of MERS, all Chinese group tours were canceled,” Won said.

However, he said there are signs that demand from Chinese tourists will rebound starting next month.

A charter cruise ship run by the China International Travel Service, one of the state-run travel agencies, will arrive in Jeju next month, according to the governor.

Won said South Korea needs to develop high-end tour packages for Chinese customers because most of the tour packages to South Korea being sold in China have been focused on low-cost, group tours.