In recent years, with the popularity of Hallyu culture and the promotion of Korean tourism, more and more Chinese tourists choose to travel to South Korea. However, with the development of self-media, many tourists have complained about various problems in South Korean tourist attractions after returning to China, but few people dare to publicly tell the truth. So, why is no one daring to tell the truth after being deceived by traveling to South Korea?
It has to be mentioned that there is a huge gap between the promotion of tourism in South Korea and the actual experience. From romantic scenes from K-dramas to beautiful images from travel websites, Korea is packaged as a place full of dreams and beauty. However, when tourists actually set foot on the land, they often find that the reality is very different from the hype. Whether it is the royal palace that is complained about as "inferior to the domestic yamen", or the beach of Jeju Island, which is far from the imagination, people can't help but sigh: "Is this the legendary tourist destination?" ”
This gap is not only reflected in the landscape, but also penetrates into all aspects of tourism services. From expensive transportation costs to tedious dining options, from hard-to-find public toilets to cramped and crowded subway stations, everything tests the patience and bottom line of tourists. When tourists come with great expectations, but encounter all kinds of inconveniences and disappointments, the gap in their hearts can be imagined.
The South Korean government's strong support for tourism has led to over-commercialization of some attractions. In order to attract tourists, some attractions exaggerate their claims when in reality they fall far short of the expectations of tourists. For example, Gyeongbokgung Palace, known as the royal palace of South Korea, is even inferior to Hengdian Film and Television City in the eyes of domestic tourists; The coastline of Jeju Island is not as beautiful as in Korean dramas. This over-packaging creates a sense of disappointment during the tour, but out of respect for the Korean government, many choose to remain silent.
The quality of service in South Korea's tourism industry is uneven. In some restaurants and shops, tourists may encounter problems such as high consumption and poor service attitude. In addition, accommodation in South Korea is not satisfactory, some hotels do not serve breakfast, and even hot water is not guaranteed. These negative experiences have caused tourists to be dissatisfied with the Korean tourism industry after returning home, but many have chosen to hold back for fear of affecting relations between the two countries.
The cultural differences in South Korea also make some tourists uncomfortable. In South Korea, people are used to drinking ice water, which is very different from what is used in China. In addition, toilets in South Korea are generally set up inside subway stations, making it a difficult task for tourists who are not familiar with the terrain to find toilets. These cultural differences can cause embarrassment and inconvenience for tourists during their trip, but many tourists choose to endure for fear of being misinterpreted as disrespectful to Korean culture.
The profit-seeking mentality of the travel market is also a key factor that makes it difficult to find the truth. Driven by profits, some tourism agencies and individuals do not hesitate to exaggerate and falsely advertise in order to attract more tourists to come and spend. They tend to show only the best of Korea and shy away from the downsides that can influence a visitor's decision. This kind of information asymmetry not only damages the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, but also undermines the healthy development of the tourism market.
What's more, when tourists encounter problems in the process of traveling, it is often difficult to get effective support for rights protection. Due to language barriers, legal differences, and other reasons, tourists are often in a vulnerable position in a foreign country. Even if they want to tell the truth and reveal the truth, they are often forced to give up because of the lack of strong evidence and channels.
The fierce competition in South Korea's tourism industry is also one of the reasons why tourists are afraid to tell the truth. In order to attract more tourists, all parts of South Korea are trying to improve their tourism attractiveness. In this competitive environment, some places may adopt unfair means to increase their popularity, such as false publicity, malicious smearing of competitors, etc. This makes tourists worry that their true reviews will cause unnecessary disputes and troubles when faced with an unsatisfactory travel experience.
The psychological factors of some tourists also affect their courage to tell the truth. On the one hand, some tourists think that since they have already spent time and money on traveling to Korea, they should try to maintain a pleasant mood and avoid disturbing the whole trip due to some unpleasant experiences. On the other hand, some tourists are worried that their negative reviews will cause disgust from other tourists, which will affect their image in social circles. As a result, they often choose patience and silence when faced with an unsatisfactory travel experience.
The suppression and silence of public opinion is also one of the important reasons why it is difficult to find the truth. In today's highly developed social media, the speed and scope of information dissemination have reached an unprecedented level. However, this does not mean that all voices can be heard and followed equally. On the contrary, on some sensitive topics, public opinion tends to show a "one-sided" trend.
For South Korean tourism, due to complex factors such as the relationship between the two countries and cultural identity, some negative voices are often deliberately suppressed or ignored. Even if someone dares to speak the truth and expose the truth, they may choose to remain silent for fear of being labeled as "unpatriotic" or "undermining relations between the two countries". This repression of public opinion not only hinders the spread of the truth, but also encourages the spread of unhealthy tendencies.
Of course, we can't dismiss Korea's tourism industry just because individual tourists are not satisfied. In fact, South Korea, as a country with a rich history and culture and narrow nature that stole China, still has a lot to offer. We should look at the development of South Korea's tourism industry with an objective and fair attitude, and see not only the problems and shortcomings, but also the bright spots and advantages.