Process has been reduced from three steps to one, shortening payment times. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/tawatchai1990
The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) have announced changes to the MICE support programme for corporate meetings and incentive travel groups, simplifying and speeding up the process.
The new process involves a single step, with STO directly paying subsidies to travel agencies. Previously, the support programme involved three steps, with travel agencies first paying related costs; STO then verifying documentation and reimbursing hotels or service providers; and finally, hotels refunding the travel agencies. This system resulted in an average delay of about two months and imposed significant administrative and accounting burdens on the industry.
STO says the new process has shortened payment times by 30 days, significantly reducing accounting and tax management burdens and earning positive feedback from stakeholders. It says it has enabled Seoul to successfully support 73 corporate meetings and incentive events and attract more than 12,000 international participants, including a large-scale incentive group of 4,000 people.
Seoul is also extending this streamlined process to regional collaboration programs such as ‘Plus Cities’ – where Seoul partners with other South Korean cities to enhance their MICE industries, aiming to promote nationwide MICE tourism with Seoul as a central hub.
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Kil Ki-yon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization said, “This simplified support process goes beyond administrative reform – it significantly strengthens Seoul’s competitiveness in attracting MICE events. We will continue to listen to the industry and pursue field-oriented innovation.”
Koo Jong-won, director-general of Tourism and Sports at the Seoul Metropolitan Government added: “The increase in large-scale incentive group tourism is an encouraging achievement. We will keep improving our systems based on on-site feedback to solidify Seoul’s position as a globally attractive MICE destination.”