Government launches discounts to be used for local accommodation

A poster introducing a government-led discount event by the Korea Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to help the struggling local tourism market. [KTO, MCST]

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism injected 29 billion won ($24 million) into the tourism industry to launch a government-led discount event for people who use local accommodations from Aug. 14.

The government-led effort is to stimulate the stagnant tourism industry in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 1 million discount coupons are to be distributed from 10 a.m. on Aug. 14 through the 27 online travel agencies participating in the event. The coupons consist of 800,000 that provide discounts of 40,000 won for accommodations that cost more than 70,000 won for the total stay, with the rest offering 30,000 won discounts for accommodations costing less than 70,000 won.

The coupons can be used for hotels, condominiums, resorts, pensions, bed-and-breakfasts and motels registered as local accommodation facilities.

The government-issued discounts can be used in conjunction with other discount promotions provided by travel agencies. However, the accommodation date must be between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, the off-season for the local tourism industry. Some of the travel agencies include Daily Hotel, My Real Trip, Yanolja, Interpark, Gmarket, Timon, 11th Street, Hotel Pass, Hotelnjoy and more.

“By expanding the participation of small and middle-sized travel agencies, we are planning to actively support the sales of these agencies,” said Kim Seok, who is in charge of welfare affairs at the KTO. “As much as the organization, travel agencies and accommodation facilities are collaborating together under one purpose to get through these difficult times, we certainly wish that we can also contribute.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]