The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization from April 7 launched a promotion offering a million coupons for discounts on domestic accommodations on a first-come, first-served basis. Shown is Jeju Island, one of Korea's leading tourist attractions, with cherry blossoms and canola flowers in full bloom. (Kim Sunjoo)
By Lee Kyoung Mi and Yoon Hee Young
A million coupons good for discounts on domestic accommodations are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and expats with registered residence and mobile phone numbers are eligible for them.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization launched the coupon event on April 7. Coupons offer up to KRW 20,000-30,000 off lodging fees if used when making reservations through 49 designated online travel agencies.
Last year, the ministry issued such coupons for 780,000 tourists in November and December to boost regional tourism.
The coupons will be distributed through May 8 on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of one per applicant. If not used within the prescribed time (every day from 10 a.m. to 7 a.m. the next day), the coupon will automatically expire. Coupons issued on the last day of the event will expire that day.
Reissuance is allowed from 10 a.m. the next day for unused coupons. A reservation must be made by June 6.
The discount is KRW 20,000 if the accommodation fee is KRW 70,000 or less and KRW 30,000 if the amount exceeds KRW 70,000. The coupons are usable only at domestic lodging facilities like hotels, condos, resorts, pensions, bed and breakfasts in farming and fishing villages, and motels, and are not valid at unregistered accommodations and day-use facilities.
A policy official at the ministry said, "We hope that the coupon gives comfort to the people, who are tired of COVID-19, and helps the crisis-stricken tourism industry," adding, "For the sake of safe tourism, we will request lodging facilities to follow quarantine rules and provide related supplies to them."
Poster for the accommodation coupon event (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
km137426@korea.kr
