To give an extra momentum to its promotion campaign in South Korea, the Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau is partnering with Korean pop group "The Tourist" to publicize the city's attractions through music and various other forms of media.

The collaboration, as part of the bureau's efforts particularly to woo younger visitors through multimedia channels, features the group's new song -- "in Yokohama" -- that carries the theme "Love in Yokohama" and was released June 3. Its music video, highlighting the port city's scenic spots and popular dating destinations, has also been released via YouTube and other sites since June 13.

South Korea has been Japan's largest source market for visitors for 13 consecutive years and is one of the most important inbound tourism markets for the city of Yokohama. The song and music video are expected to reach a broad audience in South Korea through channels such as online music stores, video-sharing Web sites such as YouTube, travel magazines and the blogs of famous "power bloggers."

Furthermore, given the growing popularity of K-pop worldwide, the song and video will also be featured on the official Yokohama Visitors' Guide home page and Facebook page, as well as in the bureau's presentations at travel fairs overseas, to raise the city's profile and attract visitors from across the world.

Major Promotional Activities in Collaboration with "The Tourist":

Early May       The Tourist shoots music video in Yokohama

May 9             The Tourist begins featuring Yokohama on its Facebook page

                     www.facebook.com/MusicTour

June 3            Song "in Yokohama" released on 8 South Korean

                      online music stores

                      Melon http://bit.ly/QOryoc

                      Mnet http://bit.ly/11oG6Oq

June 13           Music video released

                      YouTube http://youtu.be/oD65-PCa3wc

Mid-July           Article on The Tourist's video set in Yokohama to be featured

                      in the July issue of monthly travel magazine

                      "Lonely Planet Magazine Korea"

                       http://www.lpmagazine.co.kr/

Around July      Yokohama to be featured by South Korea's popular travel blogger

                       Nova, a member of The Tourist

                       http://blog.naver.com/bluenova00/

About "The Tourist"

Formed in April 2012 by six avid travelers -- 3 songwriters, 1 vocalist, 1 Web cartoonist and 1 travel photographer -- the music group has since been releasing a new song each month about their journeys.

For reference:

YCVB Facebook page in Korean

www.facebook.com/BlueNightYokohama.jp

Yokohama Visitors' Guide in Korean

www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/kor/

Source: Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau