{
  "id": 14867558,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T04:32:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "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 employing digital tools and discounts to revitalize rural tourism in the country. The initiative, dubbed the Regional Tourism Booster, aims to counter rural depopulation and divert traveler traffic from major urban centers to smaller, less frequented destinations. Unlike conventional marketing efforts, the program establishes a direct connection between local municipalities, private tour operators, and digital booking platforms. Rather than merely presenting picturesque locations, the program combines digital storytelling with reduced tour packages to stimulate actual tourist engagement and expenditure in economically stagnant rural counties across the peninsula. The heart of this campaign resides at Korea Every Corner, the agency's principal domestic travel portal. While it has previously provided destination guides and travel articles, the booster program reimagines it as an interactive marketplace. Collaborating with local governments, the agency uncovers regional folklore, seasonal harvests, and underappreciated historical landmarks, transforming them into mobile audio guides and social media content.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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",
        "published": "2026-10-16T04:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}