SOUTH KOREA is wooing tourists from Indonesia by streamlining the visa application process and offering promotional support to travel agencies.
The South Korean Embassy in Indonesia started issuing five-year multiple entry visas last June and in October, the visa processing time was shortened to 24 hours.
Park Sang Hun, visa consular of the South Korean Embassy in Jakarta, said: “The response was positive. We have seen two and a half times the number of applicants every month following the introduction of this service.”
Park told travel company representatives in Jakarta: “We will step up our promotions by (proactively) informing eligible applicants who apply for single entry visas that they can apply for multiple entry ones.”
He also informed representatives that group visa applications will be made easier for travel bookings made through the embassy’s 15 authorised travel agents. Application fees will also be waived and visas can be processed within a day.
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) office in Jakarta will be providing advertising support to travel agent partners that come up with interesting packages that fit into certain categories, namely Muslim Korea; 8D6N programmes; a third destination other than Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon and Jeju; Premium Korea; and Jeju programmes spanning at least three nights.
As well, KTO will be giving free CGV Blitz movie vouchers for travellers who purchase one of those products.
