"Preventing Cutthroat Competition in Tourist Destinations" Launch of the Fair Win-Win Cooperation Center

Improving Supplier 'Gapjil' and Commission Disputes
Eradicating Market Disorder Including Dumping Tourism

On the 7th, the Korea Association of Travel Agents established the Travel Industry Fair Coexistence Cooperation Center to establish order in the travel market. It plans to autonomously improve and eradicate market disorderly conduct such as abusive practices between trading companies, commission disputes, and dumping tourism.

On the 11th, a duty-free shop in Seoul appeared quiet due to the sparse visits of Chinese tourists. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted detailed inspections of major tourist destinations in line with the return of foreign tourists after COVID-19. Various improvement campaign activities were also carried out, such as cracking down on the lending of names by travel agencies specializing in China and unqualified tourist interpreters and guides. However, it was insufficient to prevent abnormal price competition by some Chinese travel agencies and the sale of shopping-oriented travel products. The industry's self-purification efforts were urgently needed. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, "In the case of market disorderly conduct, it is difficult to eradicate it solely through unilateral government regulations," adding, "Joint efforts based on mutual understanding among key industry members are necessary."

The Fair Coexistence Cooperation Center, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a policy measure, was launched with this awareness of the problem. It is operated by the Fair Coexistence Council, composed of nine private members including major travel agencies, legal experts, academia, and related associations and organizations in the travel industry. It is responsible for various discussions and proposals to create a fair travel industry environment and cooperation foundation, as well as discussions and corrections regarding disputes received by the center. It also handles the reception and monitoring of unfair trade dispute cases between businesses and provides legal consultation support.

Park Jong-taek, Director General of Tourism Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "Cutthroat competition in the travel industry ultimately leads to forced shopping, lowering foreign tourists' satisfaction and negatively impacting the tourism industry," adding, "We will support the Fair Coexistence Center, an autonomous organization, to fulfill its role as a communication channel among stakeholders and do our best to establish a fair and healthy tourism ecosystem."

In the future, if there are unresolved issues related to disputes between travel industry companies or damage cases due to unfair trade, one can apply for dispute mediation in writing or by email to the Fair Coexistence Cooperation Center. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, "We will promote activities to spread a culture of fair coexistence and discover various policies based on the recommendations of the committee members to support early settlement."

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