Beyond COVID-19... Domestic and International Tourism Industries Meet at Online Expo

Ministry of Culture and Tourism Organization to Hold 'Korea Tourism Online Expo' from 12th to 16th
Operating Regional Video Conferences, Corporate Promotion Booths, and Korea Tourism Promotion Booths

Photo by 2020 Korea Tourism Online Expo Official Website Screen

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 11th that it will hold the '2020 Korea Tourism Online Expo' together with the Korea Tourism Organization to support the overseas market expansion of the inbound tourism industry, which has been contracted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All events of the expo, held from the 12th to the 16th, will be conducted through the 2020 Korea Tourism Online Expo website. To resume exchanges between the domestic tourism industry and overseas sectors, which have been blocked due to COVID-19, video consultation meetings are also arranged by region: English-speaking countries (12th-13th), Japan (14th), and Chinese-speaking countries (15th-16th).

A total of 657 companies from 29 countries, including 316 from English-speaking countries, 62 from Japan, 232 from Chinese-speaking countries, and 47 public institutions stationed overseas, have completed pre-registration to consult with domestic inbound tourism companies.

Domestically, 293 companies are participating, including 99 travel agencies, accommodations, and airlines; 51 tourism ventures and experience product companies; 80 local governments and public institutions; and 63 medical and performance tourism companies.

Anyone worldwide, including tourists, can access the 'Corporate Promotion Hall' where information on 293 companies is available, and the 'Korea Tourism Promotion Hall' where inbound tourism products are exhibited. In the promotion halls, some tourism products can be reserved or purchased in advance.

From the 13th to the 16th, at 4 p.m. daily, online lectures by domestic and international speakers on the theme 'The Present and Future of International Tourism in the Era of COVID-19' can be viewed.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo said, "I hope that this online expo, prepared for the post-COVID-19 era, will transcend national barriers and serve as an opportunity to set a new standard for international tourism expos by involving a wide range of related industries from small-scale tourism businesses." He added, "Going forward, the Ministry plans to implement policies to restore the inbound tourism market in line with the resumption of international tourism after COVID-19."