TravTalk India Online Magazine
With an ambitious goal of welcoming 250,000 Indian travellers this year, the Korea Tourism Organisation continues to deepen engagement with the Indian travel trade by enhancing resources, streamlining travel processes and offering innovative marketing initiatives to make South Korea a top outbound destination for Indians.
Hazel Jain
Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO), aiming to further boost Indian tourist arrivals to South Korea, reinforces its commitment to the Indian travel trade by introducing key programmes. It was reflected in KTO’s recently concluded two-city India roadshow in New Delhi and Mumbai, which was organised in collaboration with the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI). Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director – India & SAARC Countries, KTO, said, “With evolving traveller preferences and increasing demand for unique experiences, we are committed to providing our partners with tailored support, from exclusive training programmes to performance-based incentives.”
With 176,668 Indian visitors travelling to South Korea in 2024—a remarkable 44 per cent increase from the previous year—KTO continues to focus on equipping its trade partners with enhanced tools and incentives to sustain this momentum.
The roadshows provided a platform to introduce KTO’s latest trade-focused initiatives, including the Korea Premium Travel Consultant (KPTC) programme, K-Incentive Scheme 3.0, and MICE Support programmes, designed to enhance outbound travel, and facilitate seamless access to South Korea for Indian travellers.
The KPTC programme is an exclusive certification initiative designed for travel agents looking to specialise in premium travel to Korea. Through structured training, it provides in-depth insights into luxury experiences, equipping agents with the expertise to curate high-end itineraries. Certified KPTC members gain access to continuous training, direct support from KTO, and exclusive rewards. Top-performing agents will be rewarded on case-by-case basis for Korea-bound travellers booked by KPTC members between April and December 2025, provided the package includes at least a one-night stay, a minimum value of US$250 (excluding airfare), and accommodation in a four-star or higher property. The first webinar for the KPTC programme was done on 28 February 2025.
KTO’s MICE Support programmes cater to corporate groups with streamlined visa processes, financial assistance for preliminary visits, and attractive incentives for large incentive groups, reinforcing South Korea’s appeal as a premier destination for both business and leisure travellers. In addition to the MICE Support and KPTC Programme, KTO has unveiled the Designated Travel Agency Programme, a strategic initiative under the K-Incentive Scheme 3.0, designed to recognise and support travel agencies actively promoting South Korea.
Myong Kil Yun added, “India continues to be a key market for South Korea, and we are thrilled to witness such impressive growth in arrivals. As we move forward, our target for 2025 is to welcome 18.5 million global visitors, including 250,000 from India. Through initiatives like KPTC and the K-Incentive Scheme 3.0, we aim to empower our partners with enhanced resources, exclusive benefits, and greater opportunities to promote South Korea as a top travel destination.”
