The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has upgraded its foreign language website, VisitKorea.or.kr, to serve as an integrated marketing platform to boost competitiveness and attract more foreign tourists to the country. Launched in 2008, the online platform, available in eight languages, has been successful in attracting over 15 million visitors on an annual basis. The eight languages are English, Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, Spanish, German, French, and Russian.
The KTO has stated that the renewed website will reflect the changing tourism trends after the COVID-19 pandemic and provide visitors with interesting new content about Korea. The website will also introduce various services by applying new IT technology and promoting products and services in the tourism industry. The renewed platform is divided into three main sections: “Plan your trip,” “Where to go,” and “Things to do.”
The “Plan your trip” category allows users to create a personalized itinerary based on basic travel information such as location, date of the trip, interests, and preferred travel destinations. The itinerary suggests events, restaurants, accommodation, and sightseeing schedules featuring discounts on a map. It also offers basic information about Korea for first-time visitors, including facts, history, and transportation.
The “Where to Go” category offers 150 new itineraries recommended by K-culture celebrities and local travel experts on various themes. For example, one featured itinerary includes a trip to the southern coastal city of Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, mapped out by Lee Do-hyun, who starred in Netflix’s “The Glory.” Another itinerary is K-pop star ATEEZ’s guide to a serene stroll in the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.
Under the “Things to Do” category, the website showcases travel packages on diverse themes, such as “hallyu” tourism, wellness and medical tourism, cultural activities and festivals, Islamic-friendly travel, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. The website also presents tour packages and travel stories on various topics, including places visited by the K-pop giant BTS, hiking trails at National Parks, a K-beauty tour in Seoul’s luxury uptown Cheongdam, DMZ tours, and one-day trips to the seaside city of Pohang, as featured in the K-drama “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.”
The upgraded website aims to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for foreign tourists to plan their trips to Korea. By offering personalized itineraries, local recommendations, and diverse travel themes, the KTO hopes to attract more visitors to the country and support the growth of the local travel industry. With its integration of new IT technology and promotion of products and services in the tourism industry, the website aims to adapt to the changing tourism trends post-pandemic and provide an enhanced user experience for travelers.