The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) have announced that they are conducting a fam tour in Korea starting from October 21st to promote luxury tourism to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the Middle East. This tour is specifically designed to develop customized travel packages for Middle Eastern tourists. A total of 25 participants, including representatives from high-end travel agencies and influencers from countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are experiencing luxury-themed tours in Seoul and Busan until October 27th.
Middle Eastern tourists have an average expenditure of $3,637 per person, which is 69% higher than the average for all tourists visiting Korea. Recognizing the high value of the tourism market in the Middle East, where large families typically stay in five-star hotels for more than ten days, the KTO organized this fam tour.
During the tour, the Middle Eastern participants are engaging in various premium tourism programs, such as K-beauty experiences, traditional Korean medicine treatments, and visits to autumn scenic spots. On October 21st, a travel mart was held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul, where around 70 members of Alam Arabi Korea, the public-private consultative body for Middle Eastern tourism, participated in business meetings with the fam tour attendees. The KTO plans to continue its diverse marketing efforts targeting the Middle Eastern market.
Lee Hak-Joo, Head of the International Tourism Division at the KTO, stated, “Since last year, we have been appointing and nurturing 50 travel agencies focusing on high-end clientele from the Middle East as high-end consultants. There has been over a 39% increase in GCC country tourists visiting Korea until August this year compared to the same period last year, and a growth of more than 110% compared to 2019. We expect the total number of visitors from the Middle East to reach a record high this year, and we aim to cement Korea as a premium travel destination through comprehensive promotional activities.”
Furthermore, the Ministry and the KTO have declared 2023 as the inaugural year for developing the Middle Eastern inbound market, organizing large-scale K-tourism roadshows in key countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. They have also established local PR agencies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, intensifying customized marketing strategies, resulting in a 42% increase in visitors from these countries compared to 2019. The KTO plans to continue efforts to expand the global market by setting up promotional offices in ten key countries with high potential for outbound tourism to Korea.