This file photo shows foreign tourists in South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap) SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bid to safeguard its reputation as a premier travel destination, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched an undercover operation to investigate low-cost tour packages sold overseas.
The initiative aims to curb the spread of so-called “dumping tourism,” which officials fear could tarnish the city’s image and lead to negative experiences for visitors. The city government announced on September 27 that it had examined 100 budget-friendly Seoul travel packages out of 3,097 products currently available on China’s four major online platforms. The investigation revealed 85 packages, representing 2.
7% of the total, suspected of engaging in dumping practices. Seoul has requested that both the South Korean government and the Chinese embassy prohibit the sale of these questionable packages. “While the proportion of dumping tourism products isn’t high, the more tourists who experience unfair practices like illegal guides and forced shopping, the more it negatively impacts Seoul’s image,” a city official stated.
“We need to respond thoroughly in advance.” Dumping tourism refers to the practice where travel agencies attract tourists with below-market prices, then recoup losses by focusing itineraries on shopping center visits, often receiving commissions from these establishments. The Korea Tourism Organization’s “2023 Tourist Complaint A.
