{
  "id": 8152679,
  "title": "Korea courts Western travel agents with temple stays, beach yoga, B2B networking",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/korea-courts-western-travel-agents-with-temple-stays-beach-yoga-b2b",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-18T02:42:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/travel-food/20260918/korea-courts-western-travel-agents-with-temple-stays-beach-yoga-b2b-networking"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) made a bold effort to broaden its international tourism reach beyond usual Asian markets by hosting a week-long showcase for budding Western and Oceanian travel agents. This intensive program concluded on Friday, welcoming 20 key representatives from 10 nations with high tourism potential, such as Spain, Sweden, Poland, Brazil, Canada, and New Zealand. The travel agents engaged in business matchmaking and explored regions in Seoul, Busan, and Andong through practical tours.\n\nA central part of this campaign was the 2026 Americas, Europe & Oceania Travel Mart, an event held on Thursday at The Plaza Hotel Seoul. This B2B gathering facilitated 315 one-on-one business meetings between the international buyers and 30 local organizations, such as Korean destination management companies, regional governments, and hotel chains. For many small and medium-sized Korean agencies that lack global marketing networks, this gathering provided a vital direct connection to Western markets. Unlike conventional tourists who prioritize traditional sightseeing, these travelers are more interested in immersive experiences.",
  "summary": "In an aggressive move to expand its international tourism footprint beyond traditional Asian markets, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) hosted top travel buyers from emerging Western and Oceanian markets for an intensive eight-day showcase aimed at developing premium, experiential travel packages. The initiative, which wrapped up Friday, brought 20 prominent travel agency representatives from…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea Tourism Organization hosts Western travel agents' showcase",
    "20 agents from 10 nations attend intensive program",
    "B2B networking event held at The Plaza Hotel Seoul"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Korea's tourism push towards Western markets gains momentum as it targets travel agents seeking immersive experiences, offering them direct connections and networking opportunities with local industry players.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea courts Western travel agents with temple stays, beach yoga, B2B networking",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/korea-courts-western-travel-agents-with-temple-stays-beach-yoga-b2b-8154714",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:52:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "We quit our jobs to travel the world. Now my wife and I run her family's farm in South Korea.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/we-quit-our-jobs-to-travel-the-world-now-my-wife-and-i-run-her",
        "published": "2026-09-18T04:08:16.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}