Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization pilot operation of K-Tour Pass in Busan... Expansion of benefits linked to the five major tourist areas next year

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, pilot operation in Busan... Next year, benefits linked to the five major tourist areas will be expanded

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Koo Jeong-mo = The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Tourism Organization, announced that it will pilot the 'K-Tour Pass', which provides discounts on transportation and tourist attractions to foreign tourists visiting Busan, starting from the 1st.

This project was designed to increase the convenience of regional movement for foreign tourists who prefer individual independent travel and to increase satisfaction with local tourism.

The pilot operation area was selected as Busan, which has the highest preference among foreign tourists among regions excluding Seoul. In last year's foreign tourist survey, the proportion of visitors to Busan was 15.7%, the second highest after Seoul (76.8%).

The pass is divided into 'Pass 1', a 1-day section ticket to Busan, and 'Pass 2', a period pass that combines the discount benefits of the 2-5 day KORAIL pass, and both are priced at 15,000 won.

Purchasers of section tickets receive up to a 40% discount on one-way fares for metropolitan transportation such as railways and buses to Busan, and period tickets receive discounts when purchasing a 2-5 day Korail Pass.

Buyers of both products receive a certain percentage discount on Airport Railroad direct train fares and can use one of 35 major tourist attractions in Busan for free. Additional discounts can also be received at 50 affiliated stores, including experience facilities and cafes.

It can be purchased through the app and web of online travel agencies Klook and Web Tour (Hop & Hop), and after purchase, you can receive a 40% discount when booking metropolitan transportation to Busan.

To receive free admission and discounts to tourist attractions, simply present the admission barcode issued at the time of purchase.

Users who wish to use it will also be provided with a physical card that can be used as a check card after paying for subway and city bus fares and recharging won.

Physical cards can be issued free of charge at unmanned terminals installed at Incheon, Gimpo, and Gimhae International Airports and Seoul and Busan stations and recharged with cash won or overseas credit cards. Online, you can only recharge with overseas credit cards through apps and the web.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to improve services based on the information collected from the pilot operation and expand the benefits of using transportation and tourist attractions by linking them with the five major tourist areas centered on local airports next year.

To this end, 9 billion won, approximately three times this year's budget, has been allocated in next year's budget.

Kang Jeong-won, head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's tourism policy office, said, "Through the pilot operation of the K-Tour Pass, we hope that foreign tourists will be able to conveniently enjoy transportation payments and use of tourist attractions without burden."