The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO; ) is an organization of the
Republic of Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...
(South Korea) under the
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is commissioned to promote
the country's tourism industry.
The KTO was established in 1962 as a government-invested corporation responsible for the South Korean tourism industry according to the International Tourism Corporation Act. The organization promotes Korea as a tourist destination to attract foreign tourists. Starting in the 1980s, domestic tourism promotion also became a function of the KTO.
Inbound visitors totaled over 6 million in 2006 and the tourism industry is said to be one of the factors that has some influence on the Korean economy.
History
*1961: The Tourism Promotion Law is enacted.
*1962: The International Tourism Corporation (ITC) is established to promote South Korea’s tourism industry through the management of major hotels, taxis and the Korea Travel Bureau, as well as by training human resources to support the travel trade.
*1968: The number of foreign visitors passes 100,000.
*1969: The Hotel Institute is opened. The first overseas office opens in Tokyo.
*1971: Development of Bomun Lake Resort in
Gyeongju
Gyeongju (, ), historically known as Seorabeol (, ), is a coastal city in the far southeastern corner of North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It is the second largest city by area in the province after Andong, covering with a population of ...
begins.
*1977: London office opens in the UK.
*1978: Korea attracts over one million foreign visitors.
*1982: The International Tourism Corporation is renamed the Korea National Tourism Corporation (KNTC).
*1988: The number of foreign visitors surpasses two million.
*1991: The number of foreign visitors passes three million.
*1996: The company's name is changed from Korea National Tourism Corporation to Korea National Tourism Organization.
*1998:
Kumgangsan Diamond Mountains tour begins.
*2000: Korea attracts five million foreign visitors.
*2003: Kumgangsan Diamond Mountains land route tour begins.
Hallyu (Korea Wave) becomes the major theme of the KTO's overseas marketing.
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
branch offices issue
newsletter
A newsletter is a printed or electronic report containing news concerning the activities of a business or an organization that is sent to its members, customers, employees or other subscribers.
Newsletters generally contain one main topic of ...
bulletins; offices are in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
.
*2005: KTO reshuffles its organizational structure into six divisions. KTO introduces its new corporate identity. Korea attracts 6.5 million visitors from abroad.
*2023:
HiKR Ground tourism center opens in Seoul.
See also
*
Seoul Tourism Organization
References
External links
VisitKorea (KTO) homepage
{{authority control
Tourism in South Korea
Government agencies of South Korea
1962 establishments in South Korea
Tourism agencies
Government agencies established in 1962