SEOUL, South Korea — Travelers planning an autumn trip around South Korea will have new opportunities to cut transportation and accommodation costs as the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launch the 2026 Autumn Travel Month campaign.
Running from October through November 2026, the campaign carries the slogan “Deeper Autumn, Lighter Travel” and is designed primarily to encourage domestic travel, particularly visits to regional and population-declining areas.
Train, Air and Road Travel Get Incentives
The campaign covers several forms of transportation.
Travelers driving to designated 89 population-declining areas can receive up to 30,000 won in TMAP reward points, according to the Korea Times.
Rail travelers visiting designated tourist destinations in population-declining regions can receive benefits equivalent to their train fare, along with a 20,000-won discount on the Railro Pass.
Domestic air travelers booking through Naver Flight can also receive up to 10,000 Naver Pay points for inland routes and 5,000 points for Jeju routes.
The incentives are part of a broader effort to move tourism demand beyond major cities and encourage spending in regional communities.
Hotel Discounts Are Also Coming
Accommodation is another major part of the campaign.
The government plans to distribute approximately 80,000 lodging discount coupons for nonmetropolitan areas beginning September 22 at 10 a.m. through participating online travel agencies.
Depending on the booking price and length of stay, lodging discounts can reach 70,000 won.
There will also be a new island-stay benefit worth up to 50,000 won in vouchers, while campers can receive 10,000-won coupons through participating camping platforms.
Some Travelers Can Receive Half Their Expenses Back
One of the campaign’s notable programs is regional vacation support.
Visitors to participating areas can receive a refund equivalent to 50% of eligible travel expenses through mobile local gift certificates, with the standard benefit capped at 100,000 won.
Young travelers can receive up to 140,000 won, according to the campaign details reported by the Korea Times.
The program is intended to encourage visitors to explore areas outside the country’s major tourism centers while directing more spending toward local businesses.
Geoje and Tongyeong Receive Special Attention
The campaign will also provide targeted support for Geoje and Tongyeong, two destinations that were recently affected by heavy rainfall.
The government plans to use tourism promotions and local discounts to encourage visitors to return to the two areas and help support their local economies.
Korea’s Autumn Tourism Push Goes Beyond Discounts
The autumn campaign is part of a wider effort to encourage travel during one of South Korea’s major seasonal tourism periods.
A separate National Heritage Visit Campaign is also promoting visits to heritage destinations from September through November, with benefits including free admission at selected sites, accommodation and transportation discounts, and other activities.
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organization’s official VISITKOREA platform continues to list travel promotions for visitors, including discounted tourist taxis and city-tour buses and other partner offers.
What International Visitors Should Know
For travelers coming from outside South Korea, there is an important distinction.
The newly announced Autumn Travel Month incentives are primarily designed around domestic travel within Korea, so international visitors should check the eligibility requirements for each individual promotion before assuming a particular discount applies to them.
Separate KTO programs do offer benefits specifically for international visitors, including partner discounts covering shopping, accommodations, activities and other tourism services.
For anyone already planning to travel around Korea this autumn, the combination of seasonal events and promotional programs could make regional destinations more accessible — but availability, eligibility and booking conditions will vary by benefit.
As Korea prepares for its colorful autumn travel season, the message from the tourism authorities is clear: going beyond Seoul could come with more than just the scenery — it could also come with meaningful savings.
WWC ONE MEDIA G.A
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