Nov. 18--Utah's recent emphasis on attracting South Korean tourists received a boost Monday.

Residents of the Asian nation and six other countries no longer will have to get visas if they want to spend up to 90 days in the United States for business or pleasure.

"We are delighted the visa waiver program has been expanded and that South Korea was added to the mix," said Utah Office of Tourism managing director Leigh von der Esch in an e-mail from Shanghai, where she is attending the China International Travel Mart.

"With the extension of the visa waiver program, the addition of Delta [Air Lines'] flight to Tokyo and our work in the China market, Utah is well positioned to welcome new visitors from Asia," she added.

Ski Utah spokeswoman Jessica Kunzer said the ski industry also is eager to see how the waiver, and more international flights into Salt Lake City, "might attract more international visitors and employees to Utah."

The Travel Industry Association (TIA) estimates one million more international visitors will come to the U.S. because of the waiver.

Applauding the expansion, TIA President Roger Dow said each international traveler spends about $4,000 per trip. The waiver will help the industry rebound from the prolonged repercussions of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In part because of stricter security, he said the U.S. had 2 million fewer overseas visitors in 2007 than in 2000, "despite an extraordinarily weak U.S. dollar and an additional

35 million long-haul travelers worldwide."

The move comes at a good time, said Ronnie Baird, general manager of Goulding's Lodge in Monument Valley. He returned recently from a sales mission to South Korea with von der Esch and San Juan County official Charlie Delorme.

"It can be a long process to get a visa," said Baird. "With that waiver, visitors can just come in. It makes inbound tourism so much easier."

With about 70 percent of Monument Valley's 500,000 visitors each year coming from foreign lands, Baird said less-cumbersome visa requirements will benefit international relations, as well as local businesses.

"Tourism is a great ambassador to the world. It helps build a bridge between other countries and America," he said, expressing hope the world economy will rebound by the time the visa waivers really begin impacting the market in 2010.

"Now we just have to get them here," Baird added. But he is optimistic after Korean Air said it was considering flights to Salt Lake City, two magazines in Seoul published articles on Utah, and his group met with leading South Korean travel agencies.

mikeg@sltrib.com

International appeal

-- In addition to South Korea, the waiver applies to the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary and Malta.

-- About 70 percent of Monument Valley's 500,000 visitors each year come from foreign lands

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