Korean tourism start-ups aiming to gain a footprint in the Thai market are among the first-time exhibitors at Travel Tech Asia this year, following the opening of a Korea Tourism Startup Center (KTSC) in Bangkok in December 2024.
An initiative of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO), KTSCs helps innovative travel companies attract global investment, build international networks and expand market research, with one launched in Singapore in 2022 and Tokyo in 2023.
At KTSC Bangkok, the start-ups benefit from access to partnership opportunities at regional and global expositions and demo days. They are also involved in proof-of-concept opportunities and customised localisation strategies to thrive in the Thai market.
Among those related to KTSC Bangkok that are exhibiting at Travel Tech Asia this week in Singapore are Alicorn and Gadget Korea.
Alicorn specialises in AI-based automated space and operation technology, supporting hotels with workspaces to accommodate travellers on workation or bleisure trips, while Gadget Korea operates an e-SIM-based data roaming platform, providing travellers with access to mobile networks in approximately 200 countries.
“KTO’s mission is to support the development of (South) Korea’s tourism industry. As part of that mission, we started to support Korean start-ups related to travel. Their expansion overseas can help more foreign tourists to visit (South) Korea,” said Jeong Da Wa, deputy director of the Singapore office for KTO.
Da Wa said Bangkok’s proximity to South Korea makes it an attractive market in which to support Korean travel start-ups expand, both in Thailand and on the world stage.
