{
  "id": 14863688,
  "title": "KTO uses digital tools, discounts to boost rural tourism",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/kto-uses-digital-tools-discounts-to-boost-rural-tourism",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20261016/kto-uses-digital-tools-discounts-to-boost-rural-tourism"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is launching a new initiative called the Regional Tourism Booster to combat rural depopulation and redirect tourist traffic away from major cities. Instead of relying solely on conventional promotional advertising, the program establishes a direct link between local municipalities, private tour operators, and digital booking platforms. Rather than merely highlighting picturesque locations, the initiative combines digital storytelling with discounted tour packages to generate tangible foot traffic and local expenditures in rural counties facing population decline.\n\nAt the heart of the campaign is Korea Every Corner, the agency's primary domestic travel portal. While the platform has previously provided destination guides and travel articles, the Regional Tourism Booster transforms it into an interactive marketplace. Collaborating with local authorities, the agency uncovers regional folklore, seasonal harvests, and lesser-known historical sites, converting these into mobile audio guides, social media content, and discounted tour packages. By focusing on these often-overlooked aspects of rural Korea, the KTO aims to attract tourists, stimulate local economies, and revitalize shrinking rural areas across the peninsula.",
  "summary": "In an effort to counter rural depopulation and redirect traveler traffic away from major urban hubs, the Korea Tourism Organization is launching a new initiative aimed at boosting regional economies through targeted travel incentives. Known as the \"Regional Tourism Booster,\" the program moves beyond traditional promotional advertising by creating a direct pipeline between local municipalities,…",
  "key_points": [
    "KTO launches Regional Tourism Booster to combat rural depopulation.",
    "Combines digital storytelling with discounted tour packages.",
    "Focuses on regional folklore, seasonal harvests, and historical sites."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Integrating digital marketplaces with local storytelling shifts the agency's strategy from passive promotion to active economic stimulation for shrinking rural counties facing significant population decline.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "KTO uses digital tools, discounts to boost rural tourism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/kto-uses-digital-tools-discounts-to-boost-rural-tourism-14867558",
        "published": "2026-10-16T04:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}