‘Half-Price Travel Program’ Tripled Local Spending... Nine More Regions Added in the Fall

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said on the 27th that they had selected and announced nine new regions for the second half of the year to join the Local Love Travel Support, or Half-Price Travel Program, which refunds part of travel expenses in the form of a Local Love Gift Certificate.
The new participants are Hwacheon County in Gangwon; Goseong County, Sancheong County and Hamyang County in South Gyeongsang; Andong City and Yeongcheon City in North Gyeongsang; Seocheon County and Taean County in South Chungcheong; and Jangheung County in South Jeolla.
The Half-Price Travel Program refunds half of travel expenses as a mobile Local Love Gift Certificate to people who visit depopulating regions. Individuals can receive up to 100,000 won, while young travelers can receive up to 140,000 won.
The ministry said the program, which has been run since April in 16 regions including Pyeongchang County, Yeongwol County, Jecheon, Gochang County and Gangjin County, has shown clear effects in boosting local spending and tourism demand.
By June, 5.2 billion won in refund funds had been spent, generating at least 16.2 billion won in local spending. That is 3.1 times the amount of the refunds. In addition, 76.4% of users said they increased spending because they expected to receive a refund.
Another 31.2% of users took trips they had not originally planned, while 50.0% changed their destination to a region participating in the program. A survey found that 56.3% of all users were visiting the area for the first time.
The new participating regions will complete preparatory work and begin services in stages from the end of this month. Among the regions that joined in the first half of the year, some areas including Miryang City, Geochang County, Wando County and Yeonggwang County will also continue the program through the fall with additional funding.
Kang Jeong-won, Director-General for Tourism Policy at the ministry, said, "The Half-Price Travel Program eases the burden of travel costs for the public and creates new visitors and a resident population in depopulating regions." He added, "We will work closely with local governments so that the strong response in the first half of the year continues into the fall."
[email protected] Jung Soon-min Reporter