"Targeting Southeast Asian Tourists"...KTO Targets Local Demand for Visits to Korea

Focusing on Restoring Distribution Channels for Winter Tourism Products... Accelerating Fam Tours and Overseas Promotions

MICE Roadshow held in Hanoi, Vietnam on the 22nd. Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Efforts to target Southeast Asia for revitalizing the inbound tourism market are gaining momentum.

On the 27th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced that they will conduct a familiarization tour inviting Southeast Asian industry representatives and actively promote the hosting of large-scale events.

Southeast Asia is a region with high demand for travel to Korea, with inbound tourists increasing by about 60% over the five years before the COVID-19 outbreak (2015?2019). Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, local residents' interest in Korean cultural content has also increased in this region.

Previously, last month, the Korea Tourism Organization conducted a familiarization tour inviting industry representatives from Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Following this, from the 2nd to the 8th of next month, they will invite over 60 travel agents and journalists from three key Southeast Asian markets?Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines?where tourist visas resumed in June, to introduce new tourist destinations such as Seoul, Busan, and Gangwon.

On the 6th of next month, a travel mart will also be held for business exchanges with about 50 domestic travel industry officials.

Group photo of the Philippine group welcome event held on the 25th at Yangyang International Airport. Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

To promote inbound travel products linked to regional airports, on the weekend of the 25th, following Yangyang and Gimhae airports, on the 27th, about 100 travel agency representatives and journalists from the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore will be invited through Daegu Airport.

Additionally, in September, large-scale Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) roadshows will be held in Thailand and Indonesia, and in October, similar events will take place in Singapore and Malaysia. In particular, in October in Singapore, cultural events targeting local consumers using Hallyu content will be held, and in August and September in Singapore and Malaysia, efforts will be made to develop inbound travel products utilizing large international tourism fairs. In Thailand, an online marketing event featuring actor Ji Chang-wook will also be promoted.

Seo Youngchung, head of the International Tourism Division at the Korea Tourism Organization, said, "Southeast Asia is the most important region for securing stable foreign visitor demand and diversifying the market. We will carry out comprehensive and active marketing targeting local Southeast Asian industries and consumers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.