The event "Korea Welcomes ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)! 2019 ASEAN Welcome Week" will run from Nov. 20 to Dec. 11 and offer discounts and other benefits to tourists from ASEAN member countries. Pictured here is a group of Korea.net Honorary Reporters on Nov. 15 posing for a picture in Busan. (Kim Sunjoo)

By Xu Aiying and Kim Minji

Tourists visiting Korea from member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can take advantage of discounts and benefits from Nov. 20 to Dec. 11.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on Nov. 19 said the event "Korea Welcomes ASEAN! 2019 ASEAN Welcome Week," coinciding with the ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Commemorative Summit from Nov. 25-26, will mark the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea relations.

Guides fluent in not only English but also Thai, Vietnamese and Malay will be stationed at immigration checkpoints of Incheon International Airport to help tourists from Southeast Asia complete immigration procedures.

Tourist information centers at Incheon International Airport Terminals 1 and 2, Gimhae International Airport and the Haeundae region of Busan, and the Myeongdong district of Seoul will provide discount coupons and souvenirs. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline will also offer free interpretation service.

From Nov. 20 to Dec. 19 including the welcome week period, tickets or discounts on admission to 58 major tourist attractions will be provided to ASEAN travelers.

"The number of tourists from ASEAN member countries visiting Korea is trending upwards thanks to improvement of visa policy, expansion of air routes and promotion of the New Southern Policy," a ministry official said, adding, "To diversify the Korean tourism market and attract more foreign tourists to Korea, we will continue efforts to ensure that more ASEAN tourists come to Korea."

For more information on the programs and benefits of the 2019 ASEAN Welcome Week, click the link below:
http://ktowelcomeweek.com/

The official poster for the event "Korea Welcomes ASEAN! 2019 ASEAN Welcome Week" (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)