The Republic of Korea, also known as South Korea or the Republic of Korea, has a cabinet-level department called the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In his official statement on the Ministry’s website, the Minister of CS&T explains that “the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism applies policies in fields such as culture, art, sports, tourism, religion, media and promotional advertising.” He promises that “by working to create the era of ‘cultural enrichment’, we will produce cultural policies that will lead Korea’s creative economy and make everyone happy.”
What can you say about a government ministry whose goal is “to make everyone happy”? Considering the success that the Republic of Korea has had in developing its extraordinary tourism infrastructure and increasing its number of ITAs by more than 30% in the last 3 years, you can certainly say that the MCS & T is doing a good job with the “T” part of your portfolio.
One of South Korea’s most exciting tourism opportunities has been the result of its successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. As it prepares for the games and strives to reach its goal of ITA 17 million by 2018, South Korea is sure to provide great business opportunities for ambitious travel consultants, MICE planners, tour operators, travel writers, and other travel industry professionals. To take advantage of these opportunities, you may want to familiarize yourself with the South Korean tourism industry.
The best way to do this is to start by familiarizing yourself with the excellent travel and tourism professional websites maintained by MCS & T and other government tourism promotion organizations in the Republic of Korea.
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
- The is the official website of the national ministry that manages and promotes culture, sports and tourism in the Republic of Korea.
- The MCS & T site is straightforward, not dazzling; but full of information on historical places, museums, special events, public attractions, transportation and other matters of importance to travelers and tourism professionals. The site includes detailed information on Korea’s plans for the 2018 Winter Olympics and other tourism industry development projects.
- Korea Tourism Organization
- The Korea Tourism Organization implements MCS & T’s tourism promotion policy initiatives. KTO’s main website, Visit Korea, is well-designed, attractive, comprehensive, and easy to navigate. It is geared towards tourists, but has links to a separate site for MICE planners, called Korea, Beyond Meetings.
- The Visit Korea site describes some of the characteristics that make South Korea one of the most tourism-friendly nations in the world. These include nearly three dozen Travel Information Centers and Foreign Language Help Centers, located near popular tourist attractions throughout the Republic of Korea. E-books and brochures are available on the site. There’s even a Visit Korea app and a KTO YouTube channel.
- The Visit Korea landing page offers a choice of languages, including two English versions. English readers should look at both because they offer different formats and information.
- Korea, beyond meetings
- The Korea Tourism Organization’s site for convention and meeting planners not only outlines the infrastructure and assets that make South Korea an attractive place for MICE professionals, but also provides access to a variety of services for assist planners who want to market convention, meeting and recreational facilities to their clients.
- Visit Seoul: The Official Seoul Travel Guide
- Maintained by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Visit Seoul is the official online travel guide to the capital of South Korea. The site contains comprehensive information on the main attractions, activities, food, accommodation, shopping and special events in the city. In addition to basic information on visas, transportation, and customs, it includes maps, free downloadable e-guides, and itineraries for themed tours that include walking tours. The site describes the six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Seoul. It also has a page with links to non-governmental tourism websites.
- Visit the Seoul feature pages that provide detailed information on two popular niche tourism specialties: Medical Tourism and “Hallyu.” Seoul prides itself on its growing medical tourism industry, offering a combination of traditional and modern treatments. “Hallyu” refers to the international appetite for Korean pop culture, including Gangnam style and K-pop. The Hallyu and medical tourism pages link to a couple dozen related websites.
- Travel consultants who want to stay informed about upcoming events and opportunities can subscribe to Visit Seoul’s e-newsletter. Offers a calendar of events and articles on tourist attractions, activities and services. Back issues, available on the Visit Seoul site, are a great resource for detailed information on particular attractions.
- Seoul: Your Complete Convention City
- This is a satellite site of the tourism-oriented site, Visit Seoul. Focuses on helping MICE professionals market Seoul for meetings, conventions, and incentive trips; and includes special contact information for MICE planners seeking assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
- Korea National Park Service
- This site can be an important tool for travel planners and travel consultants whose clients want to get away from cities, museums, and historical sites. Provides educational materials, images, research information, and virtual tours of South Korea’s national parks. Reservations for park facilities, shelters and campsites can be made on the website.
- Jeju Tourism Organization
- The Jeju Special Autonomous Province of the Republic of Korea is a resort island in the south of the peninsula. Also known as ‘the Island of the Gods’, Jeju’s natural wonders include the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Popular with geotourists, the site includes the tube system from the world’s finest lava of multi-colored caves; a dramatic landscape with a fortress-shaped tuff cone rising out of the ocean; and the highest mountain in Korea, with waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and a crater full of lakes. Jeju also has picturesque villages in a green field, eminently walkable; a temperate climate; resorts, meeting facilities and golf courses; a small but lively capital city; and port facilities that attract international cruise ships. In fact, some luxury lines have announced additional plans to visit Jeju. The island is also a favorite vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners. The JTO website provides information on all the island’s tourism opportunities.