The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), announced that they will pilot the "K-Tour Pass"—an integrated transport and tourism discount pass exclusively for foreign tourists—starting on the 1st in the Busan region. This initiative is designed to enhance foreign tourists' convenience in traveling to regional areas and boost their satisfaction with local tourism using a single pass.

Unveiled for the first time this year, the K-Tour Pass targets Busan, which boasts the highest preference among foreign tourists outside of Seoul, taking into account regional travel demand. The pass consists of "Pass 1," a 1-day sectional ticket, and "Pass 2," a period ticket linked with the benefits of a 2 to 5-day Korail Pass. Both products are priced at 15,000 KRW.

Purchasing the pass grants a certain percentage discount on AREX (Airport Railroad Express) direct train fares. For the sectional ticket, travelers can receive up to a 40% discount on one-way regional transportation fares, such as trains and buses heading to Busan. In addition, purchasers can choose and use one of 35 partner tourist attractions in Busan for free, while also enjoying various discount benefits at 50 affiliated partner establishments including experience facilities and cafes.

The K-Tour Pass is available for purchase on mobile apps and websites of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Klook and Hop & Hop (Webtour). Physical cards can be picked up at Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, Gimhae Airport, Seoul Station, Busan Station, and other locations, and come equipped with a public transit payment function. They can also be used as check cards by topping them up with Korean Won.

"We expect that the K-Tour Pass, which combines transportation discounts and tourism benefits, will increase foreign tourists' visits to regional areas and improve regional mobility convenience," said Park Min-jung, Head of the Tourism Industry Division at the Korea Tourism Organization. "Starting with this pilot operation in Busan, we will actively strive to enhance foreign tourist satisfaction with regional tourism and revitalize local tourism."

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