Tourism Public Corporation Opens Applications for '2021 Korea Tourism Quality Certification'

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 14th that it will accept applications for the '2021 Korea Tourism Quality Certification Businesses' from the 15th of this month until August 31.

The Korea Tourism Quality Certification (KQ) is a nationally authorized system that provides tourists with information on tourism businesses that have passed strict service quality evaluations. It is implemented by the Korea Tourism Organization under the Tourism Promotion Act, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Currently, about 500 businesses across four sectors?accommodation, Hanok experience businesses, foreign tourist city homestays, and duty-free shops for foreign tourists?have received KQ certification.

Businesses wishing to obtain certification can apply through the Korea Tourism Quality Certification website. The final decision on certification is made after document evaluation, first and second on-site evaluations, and review of the evaluation results. During the on-site evaluation, two experts in tourism and certification visit the applicant business to inspect facilities and services, staff expertise, and safety management.

The validity period of the KQ certification is three years. During this period, certified businesses receive quality management support such as service monitoring and training provided by the Korea Tourism Organization, fire and hygiene diagnosis consulting, as well as online and offline promotion and marketing support to increase sales. Additionally, they can borrow from the ‘Tourism Promotion Development Fund’ at a preferential interest rate up to 1.25% below the base rate.

Shim Hyeryeon, head of the Tourism Certification Center at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, “In the COVID-19 situation, we have strengthened the evaluation indicators in hygiene and safety fields this year so that KQ certification can be a reliable and reassuring selection criterion for tourists.”