KTO turns to big data to draw 30 mil. tourists by 2028

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) aims to achieve its goal of attracting 30 million foreign tourists by 2028, a year ahead of the government’s target, by utilizing comprehensive big data to revitalize regional tourism and market strategies, KTO President Park Sung-hyeuck said Tuesday. “Precise and timely data, along with sharp market analysis capabilities, are crucial tools to achieve this bold milestone,” Park said during a forum held by the state-run agency in Seoul. Korea attracted around 19 million foreign tourists last year, and the government has set its sights on bringing the number to 30 million by 2029. KTO hosted the data seminar to address the rapidly changing travel environment, which is increasingly shaped by independent travelers. The agency emphasized that data-driven insights are critical to moving past conventional experience-based tourism marketing and toward a sustainable growth model. To support the industry, KTO announced the launch of its new quarterly report, whose title translates into “Korean Tourism These Days.” The inaugural issue combines consumption, teleco