-ATPO Promised to invest 40 million dollars The city of Yeosu signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on December 14 for cruise service with ATPO, the manager of international cruise service. This signing came as ATPO recommended that cruise service should start at a time when the Yeosu Expo kicks off when Kim Chung Sok, the mayor of Yeosu took part in the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Expo in China. ATPO decided to run a cruise ship when the Yeosu Expo is opened and promised to invest 40 million dollars, and the Shanghai Anbang Cruise Incorporated Corporation will be in charge of operating it. As a result of this signing, around 3,000 foreign tourists will be able to visit the Yeosu Expo by using a 50,000-ton cruise with 650 cabins. As the big cruise ship is equipped with a huge performance stage on which various events can be performed, it is expected to not only show various events to foreign tourists but contribute to ease inadequate lodging facilities. ATOP, which is based in Hong Kong and consists of 27 member states around the world, runs 11 committees like the Cruise Committee and the Tourism and Culture Committee. The 14-member delegation headed by Ha Kwang Yon, its president, visited its potential investment places like Dolsan Jinmo, Kyedong Jigu, Sado, Nangdo, and Backya Jigu, toured the relevant spots, and looked around surrounding investment environments as they came to the City of Yeosu on December 12. An official from the Asia Pacific Association forecast, “As it is on cooperative terms with the Eastern Asia Reconciliation Commercial Development (Beijing) Incorporated Corporation, which attracts around 1,000 tourists a month, it will be able to not only draw tourists in association with ‘China Telecom-Hobacktong Group Tourism Business’ but be helpful to attracting a huge number of Chinese tourists to Yeosu during the Yeosu Expo. An official of the Yeosu city government said, “It plans to provide assistance to the largest degree by closely reviewing rules and regulations governing the operation of a cruise ship and working together with the Ministry of Homeland Security. If the cruise ship is run, it will obviously do a lot of good to making the Yeosu World Expo successful and to Yeosu constructing an international marine tourism city. So we will push ahead with the project.” On the other hand, the City of Yeosu is considering whether it will hold ‘the Asia Pacific Tourism Forum’ prior to opening the Yeosu Expo so that the city can promote the global event to the member states of the Asia Pacific Association and tourism agencies for many parts in China. Inquiry: Lee Kwang Ik of the Department of Coast Management (690-2421)