Yeongdong Rainbow Healing Tourist Site in Yeongdong-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province (Korea Tourism Organization)

By Lee Jihae

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on May 21 announced their joint hosting of this year's Summer Accommodation Sale Festa ahead of the summer vacation season.

One of the event's highlights is the giveaway of 400,000 discount vouchers for accommodations of three types: regional special plan, main part and special disaster area.

First, 41,500 regional vouchers will be distributed from May 28-30 for lodging in 13 provinces and regional cities such as Gangwon-do Province and Jeju Island. Each offers a discount of KRW 50,000 to those who book a room for KRW 70,000 or more.

Second, 258,500 main part vouchers will be given out from June 2 to July 16 for lodging in the non-Seoul metropolitan area excluding the capital, Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon. Travelers will get KRW 30,000 in such regions off for a booking of at least KRW 70,000 and KRW 20,000 off for a booking between KRW 20,000 and KRW 70,000.

The disaster area voucher is intended for those staying in areas hit earlier this year by wildfire and the airliner crash on Dec. 29 last year. A combined 100,000 coupons will offer a KRW 50,000 discount from June 18 to July 17 for a booking of at least KRW 70,000, and KRW 30,000 off for a booking under KRW 70,000 in the counties of Sancheong-gun and Hadong-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do Province; Andong and the counties of Yeongdeok-gun, Yeongyang-gun, Uiseong-gun and Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province; Ulju-gun County in Ulsan; Muan-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province; and Gwangju.

The periods of voucher distribution and use depend on type. The regional and main part ones are valid from June 5 to July 17 and that for special disaster regions from June 18 to July 31.

Starting on May 28 at 10 a.m., the vouchers will be available on the channels of participating travel agencies on a first-come, first-served basis and while supplies last, with a limit of one per person.

Once received, a voucher must be used to make an accommodation reservation and paid between 10 a.m. that morning and 7 a.m. the next day. If unused over this period, a voucher is automatically voided.

A user of a regional voucher cannot use the main part or disaster area ones.

More information like the names of participating travel agencies is available on the event's official website (https://ktostay.visitkorea.or.kr) or through the call center (+82-2-1670-3980).

Official poster for Summer Accommodation Sale Festa (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)