As global tourism is gradually being restored, the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam (KTO Vietnam) promoted Korea MICE tourism through a webinar held on December 21.

Gyeongju ancient town, Korea in autumn. Photo: Hoang Hoang

KTO has reformed the MICE tourism encouragement policy with appealing supports for the Vietnamese market, including souvenirs or financial incentives of up to VND1 million (US$43.6) per visitor.

For groups having longer stays in South Korea or arriving in the nation through local airports, their support packages will be upgraded with additional incentives.

In order to create favorable conditions for international businesses and organizations to hold events in the country, KTO introduced 39 unique event spaces (the Korea Unique Venue program) in many cities throughout Korea such as Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Incheon, among others.

These are event venues with highly artistic architectures, where visitors can enjoy a party by a flower-strewn stream or a sparkling “Milky Way” or immerse themselves in nature with elegant garden parties.

For five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019, South Korea continuously ranked 3rd worldwide with regard to global events and conferences, as assessed by the Union of International Associations (UIA).

The romantic scenery in Gyeongju ancient town. Photo: Hoang Hoang

Park Jong Sun, Chief Representative of KTO Vietnam’s Representative Office, said as the challenging period of the Covid-19 pandemic is gradually passing and outbound tourism progressively resumed, KTO Vietnam is making efforts together with Vietnamese travel agencies and other businesses to reconnect Vietnam-Korea tourism.

“The year of 2022 will be the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam, therefore, not only KTO Vietnam, but the Government of South Korea also hopes to coordinate with their Vietnamese peers to resume cultural exchange and tourism when the two countries are ready to reopen borders,” he said.