The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Oct. 6 said it will host this year's K-Travel Festa Saudi in Riyadh from Oct. 6-7 in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization to mark Visit Korea Year 2023-24.
In connection with KCON Saudi Arabia, the largest K-pop concert in the Middle East, the festival will be held at the concert venue of Mohammed Abdu Arena.
The ministry said it will attract K-pop fans with purchasing power to visit Korea in connection with KCON, whose main audience ranges from teens to people in their 30s.
At the venue, Korean companies such as the instant noodles giant Nongshim and cosmetics brand Innisfree will set up promotional booths, joining a marketing pavilion for Visit Korea Year 2023-24. Customized interactive programs will include samples of halal-certified facial masks and giveaways of halal-certified ramyeon (instant noodles).
At JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh on Oct. 8, Korean companies will offer consultations to Saudi counterparts at the event "Korean Travel Mart." Also that day, around 250 people including government officials from both countries, journalists and influencers are expected to attend "Korean Tourism Night" under the theme "Medical, Shopping and Tourism Ventures."
"Using this event, which targets people with a strong interest in Hallyu and likely to visit Korea, as an opportunity, we will actively attract tourists from Saudi Arabia, the No. 1 Middle Eastern market for visitors to Korea" said Park Jong-taek, head of a ministry task force on tourism and export strategy. "We will maximize high-value demand for visiting Korea."
This is a promotional poster for this year's KCON Saudi Arabia. (CJ ENM)
