DISCUSSION
To commemorate the Anyang City 50th anniversary, the City delegation took part in the Opening Ceremony along with various events, media interviews and symposiums. The City delegation also incorporated Tourism Program in partnership with Visit Anaheim to actively promoted the Grove District as a premier tourism destination. The Grove District continues to be a critical driver of economic development in Garden Grove, contributing significantly to the city's revenue, which reached $28.5 million by the end of FY 22-23, and providing employment opportunities for over 3,500 individuals.
Key Activities in Seoul, Korea (Sept 17-20, 2023):
The delegation comprised of Garden Grove city leaders, and Orange County partners, including The Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, Hilton Hampton and Homewood Suites, and Visit Anaheim (which included representatives from the Westin South Hotel, South Coast Plaza, Disneyland, and the Richard Nixon Library) conducted the tourism mission in Seoul, Korea. The delegation participated in market briefings that highlighted key travel and tourism trends. Garden Grove representatives also presented the Grove District to over 75 Korean travel trade partners and key media companies, including: Biz World News, CBS, Digital Conversion, Discovery News, Asiana Airlines, Korean Travel Times, Maeil Business Newspaper, Open News, Tour Korea, Travel Daily, and TTL (Travel and Tourism Leader). Further tourism outreach was achieved through a well-attended influencer event that attracted the top 25 lifestyle and foodie influencers in Korea, significantly enhancing the visibility of the Orange County and Garden Grove market.
Key Sister City Activities with Anyang (Sept 20-23, 2023):
Garden Grove officials embarked on a meaningful celebratory visit to our sister city, Anyang, South Korea further strengthening cultural bonds and fostering goodwill between our cities. For the past four decades, the City of Garden Grove has nurtured a strong bond of friendship, understanding, and cooperation with Anyang. This enduring relationship has been cultivated through the steadfast support of the Sister City Association, an annual student exchange program, various business meetings, and active participation in a public employee exchange program.
In 2023, Anyang City celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark this occasion, Anyang City extended a warm invitation to the Mayor and City Council resulting in a City delegation attending a commemorative ceremony along with a diverse array of events and seminars that occurred from September 19th to September 22nd, 2023. This is further details in the attached City Delegation Korea - Anyang Program Summary.
Key Activities in Tokyo, Japan (September 19-23, 2023):
Garden Grove's Deputy Director of Economic Development, in collaboration with partners such as The Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, Hilton Hampton and Homewood Suites, and Visit Anaheim (including representatives from the Westin South Hotel, South Coast Plaza, Disneyland, and the Richard Nixon Library) conducted a dynamic sales mission in Tokyo, Japan. During the sales mission, the delegation participated in a marketing briefing that included updates on travel trends for Japan. Garden Grove also presented the Grove District to major Japanese travel trade companies, included: Disney Tokyo, Brand USA, JTB, HIS, IBJ, USA Embassy Tokyo, Delta Air Lines Korea, Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA).
In addition, presentations were made to top Japan travel media companies, resulting in a significant social media postings.
Attached are the tourism itineraries for Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan along with the City delegation who were meeting participants in the tourism program. Part of the Tourism Program, there is no activity or event that had a majority of Councilmembers in attendance.