Incheon Targets Chinese Tourists During China's Golden Holiday with Tourism Packages Linked to Local Festivals

【Financial News, Incheon—Reporter Han Gap-su】 Incheon Metropolitan City Government is stepping up efforts to attract Chinese tourists ahead of the fall golden holiday period, when China's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays run consecutively. The city plans to showcase tourism packages combining local festivals and K-culture, while holding welcome events for car ferry passengers to encourage Chinese tourists to stay in Incheon and spend locally.
Incheon Metropolitan City Government and Incheon Tourism Organization said on the 22nd that they had developed tourism packages in cooperation with travel businesses in China, linking the packages to local festivals in Incheon to attract Chinese tourists during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival holiday runs from the 25th through the 27th, while the National Day holiday runs from October 1 through 7. As the extended holiday period is expected to boost demand for overseas travel, Incheon Metropolitan City Government is focusing on connecting Chinese tourists with local tourism offerings.
The city has particularly strengthened advance marketing targeting travel businesses in coastal areas such as Lianyungang, China, which are connected to Incheon by Korea-China car ferry routes. In July, it invited representatives from major Chinese travel agencies to Incheon for a familiarization tour introducing the city's tourism resources and local festivals. It later worked with local travel agencies and online travel agencies to develop the tourism packages in detail.
The packages include itineraries covering major local fall festivals in Incheon, such as the Jjajangmyeon Festival and Bupyeong Pungmul Festival, along with major tourist attractions. K-culture experiences have also been added so visitors can enjoy a variety of tourism content in Incheon beyond simply attending festivals.
The city has also designed itineraries to increase tourists' local spending. Chinese tourists visiting the festivals will be encouraged to visit nearby attractions, traditional markets and restaurants, with the aim of turning tourist traffic into greater activity for local businesses.
An on-site welcome event will also be held for Chinese tourists arriving in Incheon by car ferry. Incheon Tourism Organization, together with the Gyeongin Branch of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and Incheon Port Authority, will hold the event for car ferry passengers at the New International Passenger Terminal at Incheon Port from the 29th through the 30th. Information on Incheon's major tourist attractions and local festivals will be provided, along with tourism guidance to encourage visitors arriving in Korea to explore Incheon.
Korea-China sports and cultural exchange events will also serve as key content for attracting Chinese tourists. Good Fighters 2026, taking place at Wave Hall at Sangsang Platform on October 4 and 5, is an international Korea-China exchange event combining sports matches, performances, broadcasting, cultural content and social contribution activities. Professional matches will be held on the 4th, followed by semiprofessional matches, youth exchange matches and cultural performances on the 5th.
Incheon Metropolitan City Government and Incheon Tourism Organization plan to introduce nearby tourism resources, including Sangsang Platform and the Incheon Open Port Area, to event participants and connect the Korea-China exchange event with tourism in Incheon.
An official from Incheon Tourism Organization said, "We will draw the growing demand for overseas travel during China's long holiday periods to Incheon tourism, while linking local festivals with tourism, dining and shopping to maximize the benefits for the local economy."
Yu Ji-sang, president of Incheon Tourism Organization, said, "We attracted about 1,000 Chinese tourists with customized tourism packages targeting the fall golden holiday period. We will continue to bring international tourists to Incheon based on the city's diverse attractions."
[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter