"Up to 40,000 Won Discount on Domestic Travel Accommodation... First-Come, First-Served for 1 Million People"

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo is announcing the 'Measures to Revitalize the Domestic Market Alongside K-Quarantine' and the 'Plan to Promote Regulatory Innovation in the Tourism Industry' at the Government Seoul Office on the 26th.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government is supporting accommodation discount vouchers that can be used for domestic travel. Benefits include a 30% discount when prepaying for travel products at some tourist sites, including amusement parks nationwide. An event has also been prepared to give out National Tourism Gift Certificates through a lottery to those who visit domestic tourist attractions and stay overnight. This is intended to boost travel sentiment, which has been dampened by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to help the tourism industry in crisis.

On the 26th at 2 p.m., the government held the '5th National Tourism Strategy Meeting' at the Government Seoul Office, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, to discuss measures to revitalize the domestic tourism market, including these details.

First, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related ministries decided to provide accommodation discount coupons usable on domestic online sites for reservations made in September and October. Accommodations priced under 70,000 KRW will receive a 30,000 KRW discount, and those priced above 70,000 KRW will receive a 40,000 KRW discount. One coupon per person is allowed, and coupons will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until a total of 1 million coupons are exhausted. The government will support 20,000 to 30,000 KRW, while local governments and participating businesses will share about 10% of the discount cost.

A 30% discount benefit will also be provided for prepayment of domestic travel products for a total of 150,000 people. The government will support 20%, and the private sector and local governments will cover the remaining 10%. Discounted travel products will be selected through a public contest and will target 16 metropolitan local governments excluding Jeju. Considering the COVID-19 situation, flexible refund and change policies will be implemented even if purchasers cancel contracts before travel departure. The contract will also include a clause for 100% refund if travel becomes impossible due to an infectious disease outbreak.

Starting in July, up to 60% discount benefits will be offered for admission tickets or all-day passes to amusement facilities for a total of 30,000 people. There will also be an event selling tourism venture company products located in the region at a 40% discount off the regular price, limited to 5,000 people. Additionally, products from 50 selected healing tourism sites will be discounted up to 50,000 KRW, and if visitors certify that they visited local tourist attractions and stayed nearby, a total of 120,000 people will be awarded 50,000 KRW National Tourism Gift Certificates through a lottery. When participating in the Haeannuri-gil walking program, a regional gift certificate worth 200,000 KRW will be provided per family.

The annual Travel Week to encourage domestic travel will be extended from the usual two weeks to one month this year, from June 20 to July 19. In cooperation with Korea Railroad Corporation, express bus operators, and ferry companies, exclusive transportation tickets available only during Travel Week at discounted prices will be launched, along with special programs such as 'Camping for 10,000 KRW.' The Worker Vacation Support Project, which recruited 120,000 people this year, will also offer 50% special discount products on a dedicated site to encourage workers to prepay and use their accumulated funds early.

However, the government’s position is that these attempts to stimulate domestic travel demand must be carried out while strictly adhering to quarantine rules to prevent COVID-19. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo emphasized, "In a situation where COVID-19 has not ended, it is most important that all travelers and business owners strictly follow basic quarantine rules and spread a safe travel culture."