Foreign tourists can get up to 40% off rail and bus fares to Busan and visit one major attraction in the city for free with the K-Tour Pass, starting on the 1st.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization said on the 1st that they are running a pilot program in Busan for the integrated transport and tourism discount pass, available only to foreign visitors. It is the first such program, and Busan was chosen as the initial site because it is the most popular destination among foreign tourists outside Seoul.
The pass comes in two types, depending on travel plans. Pass 1 is a one-day point-to-point ticket that offers up to 40% off one-way intercity fares, including rail and bus, to Busan. Pass 2 is a period pass that provides a discount on the purchase of a KORAIL Pass, valid for two to five days. Both types cost 15,000 won.
Once in Busan, pass holders can choose one of 35 participating major attractions to enter free of charge. Fifty other partner outlets, including experience facilities and cafes, offer separate discounts. The product bundles the cost of traveling to Busan with local sightseeing expenses.
The physical card also works as a transit payment card. Holders can load Korean won to pay for public transportation or use it like a debit card. That puts transport and tourism discounts, local travel and payment functions on a single card.
The pass can be purchased through the mobile apps and websites of online travel agencies Klook and Hop&Hop (Webtour). Physical cards can be picked up at Incheon, Gimpo and Gimhae airports as well as Seoul Station and Busan Station, allowing travelers to collect them right after arrival or before heading to Busan.
"We expect the K-Tour Pass, which combines transport discounts with attraction benefits, to encourage foreign tourists to visit regions outside the capital and make getting around easier once they are there," said Park Min-jung, head of the tourism industry division at the Korea Tourism Organization. "Starting with this pilot program in Busan, we will work actively to raise foreign visitors' satisfaction with regional tourism and to revitalize local tourism."
