Korea Tourism

Luxury goods sales in South Korea are decreasing as consumers prioritize travel over purchasing expensive items. As COVID-19 travel restrictions ease around the world, many South Koreans are choosing to spend their money on trips abroad rather than luxury goods. The country's top three department stores, Lotte, Shinsegae, and Hyundai, have reported only modest year-on-year growth in luxury goods sales in January and February, compared to the significant growth seen in the same period in 2022. Retailers attribute the slump to the current economic downturn, although consumers are expressing dissatisfaction with the continuous price increases of luxury brands. Middle-class consumers,...

MakeMyTrip, a travel booking website, is temporarily unavailable for users in certain regions. The company has apologized for the inconvenience and hopes to resume services soon. If users have any questions about their existing bookings or ongoing reservations made through MakeMyTrip, they can contact the company's customer service through email. In the interim, users can still access their TripMoney GlobalCash Card Dashboard and speak with a customer service representative through chat. Read further.

Indonesia's Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, met with South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Choo Kyung-Ho, in Seoul to discuss investment opportunities in the electric vehicle (EV) production chain and tourism. The two countries, according to the minister, complement each other as business partners, with Indonesia's natural wealth and large market share for EVs being the future for the industry and its ecosystem. The investment of South Korean companies in building the entire EV production chain in Indonesia would be a promising business opportunity in the future. They also talked about implementing a Visa...

According to Agoda's Sustainable Impact Survey 2023, Japan is the most eco-friendly country, followed by Singapore and South Korea. The survey received more than 13,000 responses from 11 different countries, with respondents mainly noting their own country's conservation measures. However, Japan's efforts were commended by participants from India, Thailand and Vietnam, who ranked Japan second overall. The survey accompanies Agoda's start of its Eco Deals campaign, which will aim to raise $250,000 for WWF initiatives in Asia by offering travellers up to a 15% discount when they book stays through the service. The funds will be used for wildlife and...

The Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) opened in 1988 and is considered one of Korea's top art venues due to its outstanding collections and convenient location in the center of Seoul. The building was specially designed with large windows that fill the interior with natural light, attracting not only tourists but also artists and movie directors who have used the location for filming. SeMA has several annexes including SeMA Gyeonghuigung and the Nam Seoul Annex Building, and also runs the Naji Art Studio which offers workshops and financial support to new generations of Korean artists. The museum's iconic entrance is...

The South Korean government has reduced travel advisories for six countries, including Spain and Tunisia, to the lowest level in accordance with its latest COVID-19 guidelines. The level 2 alert for Mauritius, Andorra, Jordan, and Namibia has been lowered one notch to level 1. Travel advisories for Peru, Papua New Guinea, and four other countries were also downgraded to level 2. However, special travel advisories for 11 other nations, including Russia, South Africa, and Mexico, will remain in place. The easing of travel advisories comes as South Korea continues to roll out its COVID-19 vaccination program. Read further.

The Seoul Lantern Festival is an annual event that takes place in Seoul, South Korea. This year, the festival will be held in Gwanghwamun Square to commemorate the reopening of the square. The festival will have beautiful light fixtures and a media facade. The opening ceremony of the festival will have lantern exhibitions and performances. The festival will run from December 19, 2022, to January 24, 2023, and admission/participation is free. Visitors are advised to be aware of their surroundings at all times for safety and to call the 1330 Travel Helpline available 24/7 for assistance. The festival is managed...

Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Local in Seoul" initiative aims to promote local businesses through making local communities more accessible to tourists. The selected communities offer unique experiences that reflect the traits of each community based on their local culture, ranging from traditional markets and businesses to parks and trails. Jangchungdan-gil captures the history and traditions of Seoul through its long-standing shops, eateries, and cultural landmarks. Seonyuroun is an eco-friendly park area that promotes local tourism and brands through its pedestrian-friendly streets, workshop market street, and food & culture street, and offers unique experiential activities and personalized local tours. Gyeongchun Line Forest...

Saudi Arabia has launched a new national airline called Riyadh Air, with a goal to serve over 100 destinations by 2030. The airline is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, which has over $600 billion in assets. The creation of Riyadh Air is seen as a move to diversify the Saudi Arabian economy and create more than 200,000 jobs. Tony Douglas, a veteran of the airline industry, has been appointed as the CEO of the new airline. Riyadh Air will compete with other regional airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish...