Targeting MZ Generation Enjoying Urban Tourism... Focus on 'Tourism' with Major Amusement Facility Tickets, Souvenirs, and More ▲Lotte World Adventure ▲Aquarium ▲Seoul Sky Tickets ▲Old Character Dolls and Other Tourism Souvenirs ▲Songpa Love Gift Certificates
Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has newly selected six items, including amusement facility tickets and tourism souvenirs, as thank-you gifts for the 2024 ‘Hometown Love Donation Program’ and has begun actively recruiting donors.
Recently gaining popularity among office workers as a year-end tax deduction ‘tip,’ the Hometown Love Donation Program allows individuals to donate to local governments other than their place of residence and receive thank-you gifts worth 30% of the donation amount. Donations up to 100,000 KRW are fully tax-deductible, and amounts exceeding that receive a 16.5% tax credit, making it very beneficial.
In fact, among the approximately 1,500 donations made last year, donors in their 30s accounted for half, followed by 25% in their 40s and 15% aged 20 or younger. This shows that the economically active 20-40 age group most actively utilized the Hometown Love Donation Program.
Accordingly, reflecting the main donors’ needs, the district newly introduced six trendy thank-you gifts themed around ‘tourism.’ Utilizing excellent local tourism resources, three types of tourism facility tickets and three types of district tourism souvenirs were newly prepared, while continuing to offer practical cash-equivalent thank-you gifts such as Songpa Love Gift Certificates.
First, the three tourism facility tickets allow visits to enjoyable entertainment facilities such as observation decks, amusement parks, and aquariums. The lineup includes Seoul’s representative landmarks such as ▲Lotte World Seoul Sky, ▲Lotte World Adventure, and ▲Lotte World Aquarium, all prominent tourist attractions in the Jamsil area.
In particular, various lively district tourism souvenirs featuring the district character Haha Hoho and the CI attract attention. From the beloved ▲Haha Hoho doll set, to the freshly released ‘new’ ▲character neck pillow cushion launched last June, and the steady seller ▲eco bag known for its durability and quality, a diverse range of souvenirs has been prepared to suit different tastes.
Meanwhile, the district made efforts to secure excellent products through transparent and fair procedures. Starting with a public recruitment of suppliers in May, a selection committee was held in June to finalize the extension of existing suppliers and the selection of new items. A district official hinted, “For various tickets, agreements were made at prices discounted by 15-25% compared to the regular price, making them more economical.”
The district expects the Hometown Love Donation Program to create a virtuous cycle by not only encouraging one-time donations but also attracting residents from other regions to visit the district, thereby revitalizing the local economy. Donations received by the district will be pooled into the Hometown Love Fund and used as resources to support vulnerable groups, cultural and artistic projects, and other initiatives to improve residents’ welfare.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “We have prepared wholeheartedly so that you can fully enjoy Songpa-gu’s excellent tourism infrastructure, and we ask for the interest of those who wish to donate,” adding, “We will continue to proactively identify donors’ preferences and strive to discover various representative thank-you gifts for the region.”
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