The Korea Tourism Organization is working to distribute foreign tourists more evenly across the country by enhancing both transportation and tourism content. The organization supports domestic tourism companies in expanding overseas while simultaneously improving access to regional areas for foreign visitors.
K-Travel Tech Expands Global Reach from Singapore
On June 11, the Korea Tourism Organization held the 2026 Singapore Overseas Tourism Business Support Center (KTSC) Showcase Day, aimed at assisting domestic tourism companies in entering international markets.
Eight companies participated in the event, including Global Lear, which offers AI-based travel itinerary optimization services, along with Dive In Group, Do What, Red Slippers, Manmanhan Nyeoseokdeul, Blue Origin, Alikon, and Prinker Korea. They introduced their technologies and services to local government agencies, hotels, and investors, exploring potential business collaborations.
The KTSC in Singapore serves as a base to connect local tourism and MICE industries with domestic companies, supporting overseas proof of concept (PoC) initiatives. This year, in collaboration with StartupX, the official accelerator of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the KTSC has identified 13 new demand sources, including Mastercard and Skape.
Significant outcomes have already emerged. Media and Art, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, opened a local exhibition space, while 'The Kitchen of Haenyeo,' which reinterprets Jeju's haenyeo culture through food content, attracted approximately 3,000 visitors within five months of its launch in Singapore.
Improving Access to Regional Transportation for Foreign Tourists
Alongside enhancing tourism content, the Korea Tourism Organization is also focused on improving regional accessibility. From June 15, the organization will run a month-long promotion in collaboration with global travel platforms Klook and Go Hanpass to encourage the use of express and intercity buses among foreign visitors.
In the second half of last year, the number of foreign bus passengers reached over 1.06 million, marking a 28.3% increase compared to the same period the previous year. The organization aims to reduce physical inconveniences faced during regional travel in response to the growing demand.
During the promotion, 8,000 foreign tourists using express and intercity buses to travel to regional areas will receive a discount of 5,000 won each. Go Hanpass will provide discount coupons, while Klook will offer free eSIMs to enhance communication and travel convenience.
Industry experts believe that simply providing transportation support is insufficient for distributing foreign tourists to regional areas. Attractive content that provides reasons to visit, along with convenient transportation, must be integrated to lead to actual stays and spending.
The Korea Tourism Organization's simultaneous efforts to nurture tourism companies and improve regional transportation reflect this understanding. By fostering a virtuous cycle where tourism companies create new experiences and services, and transportation networks connect them effectively, the organization aims to broaden the reach of foreign tourists beyond Seoul.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.