Capital mulls over pushing One Asia Pass

The city government of Seoul is pushing to join the One Asia Pass program, a cross-border tourism program dedicated to offering benefits like discounts and gifts to visitors who travel to member countries in the Council for Promotion of Tourism in Asia (CPTA).

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said that the move is intended to increase the number of tourists from outside Asia to Seoul. Presently, only Tokyo, New Delhi, Jakarta and Taipei participate in the program.

With the pass, tourists from participating cities can enjoy a variety of special promotional offers from a wide range of tourism services. Likewise, Seoul citizens can enjoy such offers in other member countries.

The city office said that it will conduct research to determine which businesses should be included in the service package this month and consult local accommodation facilities and tourism-related businesses.

Potential venues include well-established restaurants, such as the Ferry Cruise that runs along the Han River and Han River Water Taxi service. The water taxi, a taxi-shaped ferry, carries customers to and from 11 ferry points along the river.

A number of other businesses - entertainment halls and city tour buses - will work alongside the city government in the project.

The city government and related industries will determine how much of a discount will be offered and which services will be available to foreign tourists. The deadline is currently set for May, and the city hopes it can finalize a deal by then.

“These benefits will range from discounts for tourist attractions, to shopping and dining and making purchases,” an official from the Seoul tourism division said.

BY PARK EUN-JEE [ejpark@joongang.co.kr]