The so-called "autumn tourism week" is scheduled to take place over eleven days from September 25 to October 5. Travelers can receive up to 75 percent off on 3,700 transportation and accommodation options and at a range of tourist attractions.

Korail will provide up to a 30 percent discount on eleven of its routes originating in Seoul, Yongsan, Busan, Jinju, Mokpo and Yeosu and on tourist trains, including the O-train and S-train. The Kumho bus line intends to offer a 30 percent discount on its express bus tickets departing on October 5 and 7. Some 180 major hotels and resorts, including Hanwha Resort and Lotte Hotel in Busan, will give a 10 to 50 percent discount on many of their units.

Hundreds of motels with an official "good stay" designation, and Benikea hotels, all recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization (KNTO), will give a 20 percent discount on many of their room rates. SK Energy gas stations near tourist attractions will offer discounts on gasoline and SK Rent-a-car will provide a 45 to 75 percent discount on many of its models.




Some 1,600 restaurants across the country will also participate in the event. Restaurants along famous food streets across the country, including chicken-boiled soup restaurants at the Namhansanseong Fortress in Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province), half-dried herring sashimi restaurants in Pohang, and tofu restaurants in Gangneung, Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province), will also participate.

Entrance fees for the four ancient palaces and the Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul will be halved, and another 400 tourist attractions nationwide will also offer discounts on entry.

Seventeen provinces and major cities across the country have recommended 157 tourist events or programs all with a different theme, such as family trips or traveling with old friends. Travelers can search for their favorite program differentiating by age group, region or theme at the KTO homepage (fall.visitkorea.or.kr).

As part of the 17th Asian Games underway in Incheon, which continue until October 4, 240 restaurants and hotels across the city are offering discounts. Also, one of the major bus tours around Incheon will be free throughout the autumn tourism week. It departs the Asiad Main Stadium, heads to Jeongseojin, a popular spot to watch the sunset, and then circles back through the Cheongna neighborhood.



There will be various cultural events around many of the stadiums and around the city, including the Incheon-China Culture and Tourism Festival from October 3 to 5, the Sorae Pogu Festival from October 10 to 12, the Asian Food Festival from September 19 to October 4 and the Asian Tea Festival from September 26 to 28.

For travelers heading to Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), the S-train, run by Korail, is highly recommended. For bus travelers, taking one of the Namdo Hanbaqui buses, which circulate from one tourist attraction to another, would be a good pick. There are seven bus routes available and they carry passengers from Gwangju, Mokpo and Suncheon bus terminals to various attractions and food streets across the province.



In Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province), an Oktoberfest will be held from October 3 to 5 in the German village in Namhae County. Visitors can participate in a speed-drinking competition and look around German-style homes and listen to traditional German music. Some 106 tourist places across the province, including a cable car offering a view of Hallyeosudo, a group of islands and waterways in the South Sea, bus terminals, museums, exhibition halls and even camping sites, hotels and other types of accommodations are all on offer throughout the autumn tourism week.

Travelers visiting Bomun in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province), will be entitled to a 70 percent discount at major hotels and at other accommodations, theme parks and performance halls, until October 15.



By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr