The Korea Tourism Organization announced on October 29 that it is making every effort to improve foreign tourist infrastructure and enhance visitor readiness, emphasizing that the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit could serve as an opportunity to boost inbound demand and revitalize regional tourism.
To improve payment convenience for foreign visitors, the organization stated that since July, it has distributed standard QR codes for mobile payments to about 20,000 locations across the Gyeongsang region, including Gyeongju, and supported the deployment of payment infrastructure based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. In addition, in collaboration with the leading domestic prepaid card company Wowpass, the organization provides cashback to foreigners who make purchases in the Gyeongsang area and offers a variety of benefits such as joint discount promotions with major payment service providers.
Efforts to reduce language barriers have also been strengthened by providing multilingual tourism information. Details on 124 outstanding restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops in Gyeongju are now available in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Furthermore, a special APEC Summit page has been launched on the integrated tourism platform VISITKOREA, and related QR codes have been included on welcome cards to make it easier for participants to access tourism information.
Visit Korea, Gyeongju Travel Information Related to APEC Summit Meeting Screen [Photo by Korea Tourism Organization]
Convenience for foreign tourists in terms of transportation has also been enhanced. Discounts of up to 30% are available for express buses and rental cars traveling between the Seoul metropolitan area and North Gyeongsang Province. Additionally, a foreigner-exclusive "Gyeongbuk Tour Pass" product has been launched, offering benefits at major tourist attractions and shopping venues in North Gyeongsang. Detailed information on Gyeongju's restaurants, cafes, and transportation discount promotions can also be found through Naver's multilingual service.
The organization stated that it has completed service inspections of accommodations and tourist sites. In July and September, comprehensive support was provided to about 250 local lodging operators and prospective entrepreneurs in Gyeongju, including training on safety, hygiene, and marketing, as well as detailed consulting. Safety and hygiene guidelines were also distributed to lodging operators to establish a foundation for tourist safety. In addition, a "Gyeongju Special Nuri Salpimdan" team was formed to conduct three rounds of pre-monitoring at major tourist sites and facilities in Gyeongju, taking proactive measures to address areas in need of improvement. This team will continue to inspect tourism services during the APEC Summit period.
The inauguration ceremony of the "Tourism Service Care Team" held in Gyeongju last April Photo by Korea Tourism Organization
Furthermore, the organization revealed that it is taking the lead in promoting the unique charm of the region by organizing familiarization tours for international media and the travel industry through its overseas offices, and by developing tourism products centered on Gyeongju, the host city of the APEC Summit.
Seo Youngchung, Acting President of the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "This APEC Summit is a golden opportunity to showcase the tourism appeal of Gyeongju and South Korea to the world. Beyond simply supporting the event, we are committed to enhancing tourism infrastructure in areas such as payment, language, and transportation to provide APEC Summit participants with the best K-tourism experience, and to ensure that this leads to revitalization of regional tourism and a sustained increase in inbound demand."
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