Drive to any of 89 population-decline areas nationwide
Earn up to 30,000 points after traveling 30 km or more
Points redeemable for mobile fuel vouchers
A participatory road trip campaign using navigation technology will draw tourists to 89 communities across South Korea at risk of population decline. Drivers who travel at least 30 kilometers to a designated destination can earn up to 30,000 points, with the initiative aimed at boosting local economies this fall.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are running the "Local Drive Campaign" in partnership with navigation app Tmap through Nov. 30.
The campaign is designed to encourage people to visit population-decline areas by car and earn travel rewards along the way. Any Tmap user can take part: set a tourist attraction in one of the 89 population-decline areas designated by the Ministry of Interior and Safety as a destination, drive at least 30 kilometers, and collect a mobile stamp along with up to 30,000 Tmap points. Accumulated points can be exchanged for mobile fuel vouchers and other rewards through the Tmap Points Shop.
Beyond the basic point rewards, the campaign offers additional benefits — extra mileage for electric vehicle users, discounts linked to the digital tourism resident card, and bonus Tmap points for uploading video reviews of visited attractions. Prize events are also planned for the visitor who checks in at the most sites on the Korea Tourism Top 100 list and the electric vehicle driver who logs the longest total distance.
Details on how to join and the full range of benefits are available on the "Travel Month" website or through the events page within the Tmap app.
Kim Seok-il, head of the Korea Tourism Organization's domestic travel promotion team, encouraged travelers to "build fall memories and rack up points alongside the kilometers this autumn," adding that "even a small trip to a local area can give a big boost to the regional economy."
terry@heraldcorp.com
