Get Travel Information via Text Chat with Local Tour Guides

Tourism Organization Connects Nationwide Tourist Guides to 'Tourist Interpretation Guide 1330' Text Chat Service

Example image of joint text chat consultation at the 1330 Regional Tourism Information Center. (Photo by Korea Tourism Organization)

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Tourism Organization's 'Tourist Interpretation Guide 1330' text chat guidance service will start providing region-specific information together with guides working at tourist information centers nationwide from the 1st.

The 'Tourist Interpretation Guide 1330' text chat guidance service is a service that provides domestic tourism information via text chat to both domestic and foreign tourists. Previously, guides working at the 1330 call center provided various information and interpretation services about tourism nationwide. However, it was difficult to provide live local information about specific regions. Therefore, the Tourism Organization plans to provide region-specific information by connecting tourists with local tourist guides who have expertise in regional tourism through text chat.

This service operates by having the inquirer ask the 1330 guide about information on a specific region via text chat, after which the local tourist guide participates in the chat, providing information through a three-party chat. Currently, a total of 15 local government tourist information centers, including Busan, Incheon, and Jeonju, are participating. The Tourism Organization plans to expand participating centers through continuous consultations with local governments. For inquiries about non-participating regions, the 1330 guide directly contacts the relevant local information center and conveys the information to the consumer.

The service is provided in five languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, with operating hours varying according to each regional tourist information center's hours. The 1330 text chat can be accessed by clicking the 'Travel Consultation' icon on the 'Korea Tourism' mobile app and website, as well as on the websites of 17 local governments and Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs). It can also be connected by searching '1330 Tourist Guide' on KakaoTalk. Foreigners can also use the service via the organization's foreign language app 'VisitKorea' and through Line and Facebook Messenger.

Kim Hyung-jun, head of the Tourism Organization's Guide and Transportation Team, stated, "Through this service combining the excellent accessibility of 1330 and the high expertise of local tourist information centers, we will provide tourists with highly on-site information and encourage actual visits, contributing to the revitalization of regional tourism." He added, "We plan to continuously encourage additional participation from local governments in the future."