Seoul has a variety of ways to stay top-of-mind among its global audience during this pandemic.
Although South Korea’s borders have not completely reopened, its capital, Seoul is actively preparing for tourists’ eventual return.
Its top-of-mind initiatives include promotional videos by famous South Korean boyband BTS, where the seven members presented the city’s charms, hidden spots and activities. This is how Seoul Tourism Organisation (STO) brings Seoul to the global audience, instead of waiting for visitors to come to them. The videos are a hit, reaching 100 million views in the first 10 days.
Meanwhile, attractions such as museums and theatres are taking the virtual route, with many creating online tours, exhibitions and performances to remain connected with audiences globally.
As business survival is crucial to weathering Covid-19, STO is financially supporting travel agents, adding on to assistance offered by the central government. STO also continues to support industry stakeholders through the Discover Seoul Pass.
On the MICE front, Seoul has added Nodeul Island – an island in the middle of the Han River that has been transformed into an Ecological Park – to its unique venue list. A Jamsil MICE complex is also under development, set for completion in 2025.
Seoul Convention Bureau (SCB) currently offers two types of support – international conferences, and corporate meetings/incentives. In light of the current crisis, support for hosting online or hybrid events has also been shifted to the top of the revised PLUS Seoul programme.
SCB has lowered the minimum number of participants for corporate events from 50 to 20. A Discover Bleisure Charms of Seoul was also recently published, to help corporate groups inject local experiences into itineraries.
