The Urban Shogun

In probably the most seemingly ludicrous piece marketing to be released by a tourism agency, the KTO (Korean National Tourism Agency) are set to announce it's catchy new "H1N1 New Strain Influenza Cash Relief Program".

The South Korean tourism board is set to offer NT $100,000 (New Taiwan Dollar) to any Taiwanese Tourists who catches the potentially lethally virus whilst on holiday in Korea. That equates to roughly just under £2,000 or about $3000 U.S.

This seemingly absurd piece of publicity does have some logical roots. The peak season in South Korea’s Tourism industry is just starting to take off and with the current economic climate the way it is, a slump in these coming summer months could damage businesses in this years winter months. Therefore by offering an almost compensation like scheme to attract visitors to travel, the hope that tourists will make full use of Korea’s flourishing theme parks and historical attractions.

There are some catches though as you have to be flying via Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Airways or TransAsia Airwayski. That and clearly you can’t be a stop over flight as that won’t go against the point of the scheme. Either way, if you don’t die and do end up contracting the virus whilst in Korea, start applying for that extra holiday spending money