The goal is to attract 50 million tourists a year (23 million of them international visitors) to the South Korean capital with initiatives including a list of 20 new must-visit attractions, tourism products related to the de-militarized zone (DMZ), and a Seoul Travel Voucher for temporary workers, individuals with disabilities, and low-income groups.
Seoul is determined to crush the perception that it is nothing more than a low-cost, shopping-centered travel destination.
So much so, it has introduced a stream of new projects that are intended to show the city in a new light.
The goal is to attract 50 million tourists a year (23 million of them international visitors) to the South Korean capital with initiatives including a list of 20 new must-visit attractions, tourism products related to the de-militarized zone (DMZ), and a Seoul Travel Voucher for temporary workers, individuals with disabilities, and low-income groups.
To mark improved relations on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul plans to host a “Peace Tourism Week” and develop a peace tour course linking the de-militarized zone (DMZ), the border that separates North and South Korea, and Samcheonggak, the venue for meetings between each country’s Red Cross groups.
A Seoul Metropolitan Government 2019-2023 development plan, has set out plans for Seoul to become (1) a tourism city where citizens are happy, (2) a charming city rich in content, (3) a convenient and smart tourist city, (4) a city with a sustainable tourism industry, and (5) a city that leads the international tourism industry.
Instead of solely relying on international tourists interested in Korean pop culture, Seoul plans to make the city a place that Koreans from other regions want to visit, too. Last year, Seoul attracted 10.5 million international tourists and 17 million domestic tourists.
The 20 Must-Visit Place (MVP) Courses include the Oil Tank Culture Park, Donuimun Museum Village, and the alleys of Ikseon-dong.
In addition, the city plans to expand high value-added businesses like medical tourism, hallyu, temple stays, and gourmet food tours, as well as its competitiveness as a MICE city.
Furthermore, the city will build a “smart tourism online and offline platform” using IoT and virtual reality programmes aimed at prospective visitors for easier travel planning.
A Seoul Tourism Plaza will include the Seoul Tourism Organisation, startups, tourism associations and international tourism offices.
Joo Yong Tae, the director of Seoul’s tourism and sports bureau, said, “This plan not only includes quantitative growth based on international tourists but also mid-to-long-term strategies and tasks for domestic tourism and qualitative improvements to Seoul tourism.”