The Korean Government implements a massive campaign of discounts on express and intercity bus tickets for foreign tourists, with the aim of facilitating their travel to the different provinces and sectors of the country. Among them is Jeju Island, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world, one of the favorite places for international tourists.
In this regard, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) reported that, from June 15 to July 14, they will offer such benefits at the national level. This initiative seeks to improve the comfort of travel through the territory, while at the same time a greater visibility for online booking platforms available to international visitors.
The global travel app “Klook” and the financial platform “Hanpass” participate in this campaign. KTO will grant a discount coupon of 5,000 won ($3.26) applicable to the purchase of tickets; to this benefit, Hanpass will add an additional discount of 4,000 won ($2.61), while Klook will give away a travel eSIM card to those who book through its system.
The ministry referred to this campaign saying that “given that the number of foreign tourists who visited Korea between January and April of this year (6.77 million) has broken historical records, the Government will continue to work closely with the relevant institutions to create an environment in which international travelers can travel throughout the country with greater comfort and ease.”
Record of foreign tourists
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported at the end of May that the cumulative number of foreign visitors from January to April this year grew by 21 percent year-on-year to 6.77 million, a historical record for the period.
China toped the list in the first four months of the year with 570,000 visitors. Northeast Asia recorded a solid growth in tourism demand: Japan provided 300,000 visitors, Taiwan 190,000 and Hong Kong 70,000.
Visitors from America and Europe also increased to 420,000 in the period. The ministry pointed out that the expansion of Hallyu content has turned Korea into a global tourist destination that attracts tourists beyond Asia.
The growth of tourism in the provinces was also remarkable: the number of arrivals of foreigners at regional airports last month reached 360,000, an increase of 38 percent year-on-year. Measures such as the expansion of international routes at these airports and the provision of support for transport will seek to further boost tourism in the regions.
Foreign visitors would have spent 1.9 trillion won through card payments during their travels around the country, according to the ministry, the highest figure since tracking began in January 2018.
The ministry noted that this result reflects the synergy created by Korean culture and a policy of comprehensive government support for tourism in a difficult context marked by rising international oil prices and fuel surcharges.