Incentives for Small-Group Tourists and Train Travelers Begin
Additional Benefits Offered to Celebrate KTX Bujeon-Donghae Line Opening
Donghae Pay to Be Used for Incentives Starting in 2026
Donghae City in Gangwon Province announced that, starting January 15, it will officially launch a small-group tourist incentive support program along with a train-linked tourist incentive event, aiming to boost local tourism and welcome visitors arriving by train.
This initiative provides existing tourism incentives to both day-trip and overnight visitors, while also offering additional benefits to travelers using trains to Donghae in celebration of the opening of the KTX Bujeon-Donghae Line.
The existing small-group tourist incentives offer 10,000 won per day-trip visitor and 20,000 won per overnight visitor. In addition, tourists who use trains or passenger ships will receive an extra 5,000 won for day-trippers and 10,000 won for overnight guests.
Separately, the 'KTX-Eum Donghae Line Opening Commemorative Train-Linked Event' is a limited-time incentive program. Tourists who board a train at Seoul Station or Bujeon Station and arrive at Donghae Station can receive an additional 50% reimbursement of their train fare by verifying their ticket.
For example, a day-trip visitor who applies for the existing small-group tourist incentive and takes a train from Seoul Station to Donghae Station, then verifies their ticket, will receive a total benefit of 30,650 won-this includes the basic incentive of 15,000 won plus 50% of the train fare (15,650 won).
The small-group tourist incentive support program will be operated year-round from January to December 2026 (with early termination if the budget is exhausted), while the train-linked event support program will be offered temporarily from January 15 to March 31 within the allocated budget.
However, starting in 2026, Donghae City plans to provide incentives via 'Donghae Pay,' the local currency of Donghae City, instead of the previous bank transfer method, in order to encourage repeat visits and stimulate local spending.
To apply for the incentives, tourists must issue and receive a Donghae Pay card through the mobile app, then submit the required supporting documents and card number. After review, the incentive will be credited to the respective card.
Lee Jinhwa, Head of the Tourism Division, stated, "Through this train-linked incentive support program, we hope to add to the romance of train travel and help visitors create unforgettable memories in Donghae. We will continue to introduce various benefits that combine transportation and tourism, bringing new vitality to Donghae City."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
