European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 04, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                \ offbeat tourism on Northern Border South Korea courts invasion of tourists by Laura King the associated press let s say you re planning a vacation. The Beach the mountains nah. How about a War zone with tourism in the doldrums due to the Long running nuclear standoff with the North South Korea is actively promoting the demilitarized zone a grim 150-mile-Long f strip of no Man s land surrounded by troops and armaments As a travel destination. Well yes it s a Little bit strange when you think about it conceded Kim Doh Hong of the National tourist office spreading out a handful of Glossy brochures. But it s an interesting part of the country and visitors want to see it. So we want to make it  technically the Korea Are still at War. A Battlefield armistice ended fighting in 1953, but no permanent peace treaty was Ever signed. After months of growing tension Over whether the North is building nuclear weapons nerves have calmed with a pledge by the North to freeze its atomic program pending talks. A North South Summit is set later this month and the United states begins High level talks with North Korea on Friday. Officials say it s too soon to say whether the latest developments will help the tourist Industry. But they say there s no doubt that the 16 month nuclear impasse has Hurt efforts to lure visitors despite an ongoing $30 million tourism Campaign the country s biggest such promotion Ever. It s been a big obstacle said Birru. When people arrive they see the country is peaceful and Safe but they Don t know it unless they come Here.". Running about 18 percent above last year s Levels but outbound tourism grew at twice that rate. Most of the increase has been due to a jump in tourism traffic from Japan. The yen is so Strong that a weekend of golfing or shopping in South Korea a two hour flight a is much cheaper for japanese than staying at Home. Efforts to attract More american and european visitors have been less successful officials say. But they Hope that will change if South Korea s image does. Our political situation has been difficult Kim acknowledged. Even so he added you re probably safer Here than in new  South korean troops patrol the oms Border with the Aid of a dog. Seeking to turn a liability into an asset. Tour operators offer trips that spotlight tensions with the North including observation posts with Cross Border views and invasion tunnels dug by the North in apparent preparation for a Surprise strike. Last year More than 24,000 foreign tourists took Doz Tours most of them travelling to Panmunjom the eerie Little truce Village where the two sides face off at spitting distance. There used to be the Berlin Wall but now this is the last place to see firsthand what the cold War is about Kim said enthusiastically. Where else in the world can you find this foreigners Only need present their one time . Marine instructors now instructing adventurous travellers i i by Robert h. Reid the associated press _ Sozimo Dela Cruz and his fellow Negrito tribesmen once taught . Marines to survive in the Jungle. With the americans gone they now display their skills to tourists. For years the . Navy used Negrito known in the Philippines As betas As instructors at the Jungle warfare school at Subi Ebay naval facilities 50 Miles West of Manila. The base closed in november .1992, depriving the Negrito and 40,000 _ other filipinos of their livelihood. _ r filipino authorities converted the base into a free port and tourism Center. Negrito serve As tour guides through the 32,000-acre Jungle one of the last stands of Virgin tropical rain Forest on Luzon _ Island -.". The program enables the Forest dwelling Negrito to maintain their ancient Way of life. It also provides tourists with an _ Opportunity to explore and appreciate the rain Forestt rapidly disappearing National treasure. Around 60 people Are involved in the ecological Tours including about 40 Jungle guides said tour coordinator Jojo Umali. We want to preserve the Jungle so we Don t let people hike or Camp without a  survival of the Negrito culture depends on the survival of the rain Forest the Negrito ethnically related to the melanesian of the South Pacific Are descendants of the original inhabitants of the Philippines. Driven into the mountains and forests by ancestors of Lowland filipinos the Negrito survived by learning to find food Medicine and weapons from among the thousands of plants and animals which thrive in the Jungle. When the americans controlled Subic they hired Negrito As trackers to combat poachers and illegal loggers responsible for the destruction of most philippine Jungles. They perform the same function today in addition to guiding tourists. If we Don t care for this Forest we will lose our. Live Hope said Domimgo Dizbon 28, a former instructor at the Jungle warfare school and now a guide. Our lives depend on this Forest. The americans taught us that. At the Pamulaklakin settlement a u collection of thatched huts along a june Ridge Negrito show visitors How they have adapted to the ways of the Forest. R these Are aeta matches Dela Cruz 34, explained As he rubbed two Bamboo Sticks together. Moments later flames Rose from Bamboo shavings placed beneath the Sticks. Juice from thin leaved cover grass serves _ As a Snake bite remedy. Chincola bark from which quinine is extracted is used to treat malaria. Other plants Are boiled into a drink to give new rioters strength after childbirth. / we Are poor Dela Cruz said. We Don t have anything so we use. These. _ plants for our  passports in order to take the Daylong Panmunjom tour which costs about $50. South koreans who want to visit the Security area must go through a separate and complicated application process. Visitors must follow a strict dress code no Short skirts or jeans. And they Are admonished not to make faces at scowling North korean guards. At . Camp bonifas incongruities abound. A cheerful clean Cut american military briefer hands out statements for visitors to sign waiving responsibility in the vent of their death or injury in hostilities. Tourists can buy Doz trinkets such As souvenir Coffee mugs and key chains. Sometimes military considerations prevail. Panmunjom is closed to tourists whenever North South meetings being held or a vip is passing through. As a travel destination South Korea has much More than cold War chills to recommend it. Yet despite its rugged National Parks Beautiful seacoast and colourful Urban markets it remains off the tourist track. / koreans travel overseas in about the same numbers As visitors arrive about 4 million annually. But they spend considerably More Money abroad than visitors spend Here creating a $500 million tourism deficit of ctr the first five months of the year officials said. Overall the number of visitors is can noon Midnight Dally in the Wagon where theater Ana food Booths carnival rides _ sporting events fest tent live entertainment $10,000 Jackpot Bingo Monte Carlo and fireworks so Art travel Comfort safety affordability groups travel alternative we suggest that if you save this and with these super Low prices you can t go wrong. And besides look at the other advantages that make schary travel an easy Choice. 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