Tag Archives: South Korea

‘One of our primary areas of interest this year is the Premium and Luxury travel segment’

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) considers India as a growing source market, and has launched the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023 to educate the travel agents about the destination in detail. Myong-kil Yun, Director, India Office, KTO spoke to Disha Shah Ghosh about their focus in India, and the value of this education initiative.

1. Where does India rank in pecking order of global source markets for KTO?
India is not yet a very big source market for travel to South Korea and compared to certain other countries, it can be considered to be a growing market for the destination. That being said, the recovery of outbound travel from India post pandemic has been absolutely great and the interest and feedback we have received for travel to South Korea has also been very positive.

We are accordingly working on our marketing campaigns to boost these numbers and the KPTC 2023 programme is one such initiative.

2. In terms of trade outreach, what are you trying to achieve through the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023?
As KTO, one of our primary areas of interest this year is the Premium and Luxury travel segment. We wanted travel agents in India and neighbouring countries, to have specific information about this category of travel to accordingly be able to design unique and interesting Korea itineraries for the discerning traveller.

For the same we decided to change up our Korea Premium Travel Consultant programme this year, to specifically cater to this area of travel.

3. How are you encouraging the travel trade to participate in the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023?
We conducted a survey to shortlist potential travel agents with whom we could work together to promote Premium Korea and who in turn expressed interest in this specialized program.

Additionally, all shortlisted members were given destination training pertaining to Premium and Luxury Korea through exclusive interactive sessions with DMCs in Korea. The DMC partners for this programme were also selected based on their capability and experience of handling Premium and Luxury travel clients, to enable KPTC members to curate unique and customized itineraries for their HNI clients.

4. What are the salient features of the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023?
Besides being given exclusive destination training for Premium and Luxury Korea, the KPTC 2023 programme also has in place a Support scheme for its members, to better plan and facilitate travel for their clients.

To be categorised as a Premium Korea travel package, KPTC members must ensure that certain criteria are met – trip duration of at least 3 nights and more, accommodation at 4-star and 5-star hotels only and a minimum package cost of USD 300 per pax per night.

Support in terms of discounted airfare from Asiana Airlines, K-beauty kits from Amorepacific and welcome kits from KTO are some of the benefits on offer for KPTC members, subject to meeting the criteria laid out for the program.

5. Besides online training, what are the on-ground activations being conducted to create awareness about the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023?
As part of the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023, all selected participants were asked to share their marketing plans to promote Premium Korea travel to their clients.

KTO is reviewing all such plans and will be working together with the KPTC 2023 members on these marketing plans on a case-to-case basis. This includes on-ground activities like networking sessions with HNI clients and other physical and digital campaigns.

6. Which destinations are being highlighted through the Korea Premium Travel Consultant Program 2023?
KTO has been focusing on Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island as the destinations for Indian travellers for the past couple of years. For the KPTC 2023 program, additionally the regions of Jeollanam-do Province and Gangwon-do Province, are some destinations that we are looking to actively promote.

Jeollanam-do Province is where the cities of Suncheon and Yeosu lie. Suncheon is known for its lush greenery and the Suncheonman Bay National Garden and Wetlands, which is also hosting the Suncheonman International Garden Expo this year. Yeosu is a great place to build seaside memories with mouth-watering seafood and busker performances.

Gangwon-do Province gained international fame when it hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 2018. It is “the” place to go to winter activities and sports, but is also quite famous for its many beaches and coffee streets. It also provides a host of adventure activity options for thrill lovers.

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau Opens New Representative Office in South Korea

The Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has opened its first dedicated representative office in South Korea as part of its continuous drive to raise Abu Dhabi’s MICE tourism profile in new and potential source markets. Abu Dhabi has welcomed 30,408 visitors from South Korea between January and August 2022, indicating a strong appetite for travel to the UAE capital.

ADCEB will educate corporates, associations, event organisers, MICE agencies, and other industry stakeholders in South Korea about Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE proposition, highlighting it as a dynamic global destination for business events.

Commenting on this, Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “We are excited to open our first representative office in South Korea to further establish Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for meetings, incentive travel, conferences, and exhibitions. As we remain focused on progressing the emirate, growing our network of international offices will help us expand Abu Dhabi’s reach in newer markets. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in South Korea, we anticipate great demand for outbound MICE travel, making it the best time for us to establish our presence in this market.”

In recent years, ADCEB has accelerated its financial and non-financial support towards strategic business events, which includes the launch of Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0, an enhanced subvention programme that offers event organisers an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, comprising financial assistance and destination-driven value-adds.

ADCEB continues to build strategic partnerships that ensures event objectives are met with world-class experiences for both planners and attendees. Earlier this year, ADCEB formed a strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, to further bolster support for MICE travel groups travelling to Abu Dhabi.

Through this collaboration, ADCEB can offer eligible Advantage Abu Dhabi applicants additional flight benefits and perks such as group booking discounts, complimentary flights for large MICE travel group bookings on direct flights, and special flight rates for site/destination inspection trips to Abu Dhabi for clients who host their business events and incentive groups in the UAE capital.

In addition, ADCEB occasionally leads or supports the bidding process for suitable conventions and influences event organisers’ decision in launching their first-ever event or geo-clone their flagship events in Abu Dhabi too.

Fostering deeper collaborations with associations, ADCEB also renewed its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Emirates Medical Association to attract more B2B medical sector conferences to Abu Dhabi.

South Korea lifts testing requirement for inbound travellers

Tourists wanting to visit South Korea no longer require to undergo a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test upon their arrival.

The announcement was made via the Korea Tourism Organization – VisitKorea Facebook page. The new protocol is in effect since October 1, 2022.

“The NEWS you’ve all been waiting for, starting today, you don’t need to test for COVID-19 after arrival!” it wrote.
Before this, South Korea lifted its pre-entry RT-PCR test requirement for entrants on September 3, 2022.

“All inbound travellers to Korea are free from any PCR test requirement effective October 1,” a post from the Visit Korea website read.

Unexpired multiple-entry visas issued before April 5, 2020, could also be used without re-application. It added that the submission of the Consent for Isolation would no longer be required.

South Korea re-opens for Indian Travellers

As leisure travel is re-opening across the globe, South Korea is all set to welcome outbound travellers from India post two years of COVID-19 Pandemic hitting the world.

According to the release, Indian travellers can now apply for a short term (C-3) visa which allows foreigners to stay up to 90 days for marketing research, travel, visiting relatives, meetings or similar reasons. The visa can be applied physically at the VFS Global centers.

Effective from 01st June 2022, the VFS Global South Korea Visa application Center, New Delhi and Kolkata would accept all the visa categories Including express visa applications. Applicants would need to take prior appointment to submit the application in New Delhi, however, for Kolkata applicant can walk in without appointment to submit the application. Online appointment link would be available soon on website. Click Here – https://bit.ly/3z488b1

All travellers must provide a Negative COVID-19 PCR Test Result Certificate from a PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure date irrespective of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated individuals (WHO approved emergency COVID-19 vaccine) are exempt from quarantine. These individuals must have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days, but within 180 days, or have received a booster shot (third dosage). Non-vaccinated or individuals who have not completed three doses have to undergo a mandatory quarantine of 7 days.

For details related pre and post departure mandates Click https://bit.ly/3PQgQzn

Korea Tourism Organization has launched multiple campaigns on global and regional level to encourage leisure travel to Korea. The Global campaign is called “Travel to Korea Begins Again”. KTO New Delhi has also launched a regional campaign called “Let’s Go Korea Plan”.

Travel to Korea Begins Again: The global campaign targets world over travelers with a showcase of new recommended attractions like K-Drama filming sites, food, culture and unexplored regions to visit in Korea, discount offers on flights, discount coupons for local transportation, shopping and tourist attraction etc.

For Details related to the global offering Click Here – https://bit.ly/3x0A1iw

Let’s Go Korea Plan: The Indian campaign targets PAN India outbound travellers, with a customer centric approach. The plan was launched by KTO, New Delhi Office in April 2022, in collaboration with Shinhan Bank and Utazzo Travel. The customers have the ease to invest in monthly instalments ranging between INR 2,000 to INR 100,000 with Shinhan Bank for a duration of up to 1 year. The Shinhan bank offers an attractive rate of interest of 5.75% * per annum that can be availed at the end of the deposit period. The buyers of this monthly saving cum recurring deposit plan are entitled for exclusive discounts and money back offers provided by Utazzo travel. (For details of Let’s Go Korea Plan Click Here https://bit.ly/3awDOLV)

Pleased about the reopening of Korea for Indian travellers, Y.G. Choi, Director Korea Tourism Organization said, “We are very excited to welcome the Indian travellers to South Korea after a long pause. We have just switched on the reset button for South Korea travel. Our offerings will be focused on new market segments like luxury and entertainment for generation Z. There are variety of assets S. Korea has in terms of luxury experiences and entertainment inspired from the world of K-pop and K-Drama shoot locations. We will also be focusing on coworking with multiple travel trade partners and make the best price options available for the Indian travellers to visit Korea.”

With the rise in Korea awareness and preference of Korean luxury consumer brands in India, especially through Korean entertainment world of K-Pop and K-Drama, KTO expects a rise in demand for travel to Korea by Indian outbound travellers in year 2022-23.

EU set to add US to safe travel list allowing non-essential travel

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European Union governments agreed on Wednesday to add the United States to their list of countries from which they will allow non-essential travel, EU diplomats said.

Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 countries approved the addition of the United States and five other countries at a meeting on Wednesday, with the change to take effect in the coming days.

Albania, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Serbia and Taiwan will be added, while Chinese administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau will be included with a requirement for reciprocity removed.

EU countries are recommended gradually to lift travel restrictions for the current eight countries on the list – Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.
Individual EU countries can still opt to demand a negative COVID-19 test or a period of quarantine. (Source: Reuters)