"Taiwan Tourists Are Coming"...Korea Tourism Organization Goes All Out for Inbound Tourism Marketing

Korea-Taiwan Flights Resume... Market Reignited Through Travel Industry Collaboration and Promotion Expansion

Photos from the filming of Taiwanese chef James Cheng's TV program (2) - Lim Hyung-kyu Experience of Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori with Intangible Cultural Heritage. Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Taiwan, the third-largest source of visitors to Korea before COVID-19, is easing entry restrictions, accelerating efforts to capture early departure demand.

On the 8th, the Korea Tourism Organization announced that it will simultaneously promote business agreements with major Taiwanese travel agencies, invitation famtours, and large-scale year-end and New Year promotions.

Taiwan has implemented visitor quarantine exemptions since October 13. Starting from the 10th, the visitor limit, which had been managed at up to 200,000 per week, will be completely lifted. Prior to this, on the 1st, the organization signed business agreements with 12 major Taiwanese travel agencies, agreeing to mutually cooperate in developing new Korea travel products and joint customer recruitment.

Joint collaborative projects involving local governments, regional tourism organizations, airlines, and travel agencies are also underway to restore direct Korea-Taiwan flights and normalize regional tourism early.

Since the 6th, the organization, Jeju Provincial Government, Jeju Tourism Organization, and Tigerair have been conducting a large-scale famtour inviting 52 people including Taiwanese travel agents, journalists, influencers, and related industry figures to commemorate the resumption of direct flights to Jeju.

From the 13th to 17th, in collaboration with Gangwon Provincial Government, Gangwon Tourism Foundation, and Fly Gangwon, a joint famtour will be held to celebrate the resumption of direct flights to Yangyang. In addition to special support for regional flight routes and resumed flights, large-scale year-end and New Year promotions will be promoted together with travel agencies handling Korea travel products and airlines.

Promotion of Korea travel targeting consumers is also active. The organization, together with local governments and regional tourism organizations, has selected the '100 Regional Specialty Gourmet Dishes You Must Try in Korea Travel' and plans to actively support travel agencies in developing new gourmet travel-themed products.

In particular, to stimulate consumer demand for Korea travel through gourmet content favored by all age groups of Taiwanese visitors, the organization invited famous Taiwanese chef James Cheng from the 3rd to the 12th to produce a special program. Cheng will introduce Korea locally by personally making and tasting dishes such as Andong Jjimdak, Suwon Galbi, strawberry desserts, kimchi, Makgeolli, and temple cuisine on the gourmet program 'James Goes Cooking' on Ba Da TV (八大TV).

Seo Youngchung, Director of the International Tourism Headquarters at the organization, said, "Taiwan recorded 1.26 million visitors to Korea in 2019 before COVID-19, ranking third after China and Japan. We will conduct focused marketing through cooperation with local travel industries, local governments, and regional tourism organizations to contribute to the early recovery of the inbound tourism industry."