Korea Tourism Organization launches K-incentive scheme for Indian travel agents

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The incentive scheme’s main benefits include providing travel agents with prizes of USD 30 per passenger and support for quick, simple and hassle-free tour visas

  • Foreign travelers to South Korea surged by sevenfold in April, reaching 889,000 visitors. The figure represents a nearly 600% increase compared to the same month last year.
  • April’s numbers accounted for 54% of the pre-pandemic levels recorded in April 2019.
  • Japanese visitors increased by 5,651% to 128,000, followed by 109,000 American visitors (up 252%). Chinese tourists rose by 10 times to 106,000 due to increased flights and China’s labor day holiday.
  • Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam contributed 77,000, 54,000, and 41,000 visitors, respectively.
  • South Korean travelers going abroad also surged, with a sevenfold increase to 1.5 million in April compared to the previous year.

As part of the ongoing marketing plans for 2023, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) India office has launched a special K-incentive Scheme to boost sales of Korean travel packages in the market.

The new initiative, which is aimed towards travel agencies across India, was introduced at an event in Mumbai that was held especially for the occasion and in collaboration with OTOAI. With the launch of the K-incentive Scheme, KTO India hopes to get travel agents in India in the spirit for this special year as 2023 commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Korea.

The incentive scheme’s main benefits include providing travel agents with prizes of USD 30 per passenger and support for quick, simple and hassle-free tour visas for visitors to Korea between June and December 2023.

In addition to Seoul, KTO is keen to promote regional destinations in Korea including Busan, Gangwon province and Jeollanam-do province. Including any of these regional destinations in the itinerary would be a necessary condition to be eligible for the benefits of the K-incentive Scheme.

Speaking at the launch event, held on June 2, 2023, at Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai, Myongkil Yun, Director of KTO India, said, “This is the first time any NTO is launching an incentive scheme for leisure travel packages in India and this initiative comes at a very opportune time when we are in the year of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two nations.”

Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, shared his thoughts on the launch as well, saying, “Korea has enormous potential to grow from the Indian market and I am confident that together we can generate good numbers for the destination. On behalf of OTOAI, I would like to thank Korea Tourism for specially curating this incentive program for our members and entrusting OTOAI. I would like to request all the members to wholeheartedly support the destination by recommending it to your clients. I assure you that your travellers will return with a unique and memorable experience in Korea”.

Myongkil Yun further added, “This year, South Korea is seeing a surge in visitors from India, and we are keen to further boost that many-fold with the launch of the K-incentive scheme. There is a lot to see and do in Korea, for visitors of all ages and we are ready to welcome Indian travellers in huge numbers to Korea, where K-culture begins.”