“The vacation subsidy program is designed to help financially underprivileged people enjoy domestic tours without worrying about expenses,” a Seoul official said. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul government said Tuesday it will offer a vacation subsidy of 250,000 won (US$222) to 2,000 low-income workers this year, as part of an effort to reinvigorate the stagnant local tourism sector.
The Seoul metropolitan government will begin accepting applications for the vacation subsidy in March from among Seoul residents earning less than 2 million won a month, officials said.
The new subsidy program is mainly intended for non-regular and subcontract workers, such as couriers, substitute drivers, insurance sales agents and tutors, the officials said.
“The vacation subsidy program is designed to help financially underprivileged people enjoy domestic tours without worrying about expenses,” a Seoul official said.
The amount of vacation subsidies has been set on condition that about 400,000 won is needed to cover the expenses of a two-day domestic trip by one worker, according to the 2016 data of Statistics Korea.
The amount exceeding 250,000 won will be paid by the subsidy recipient.
Meanwhile, the Seoul government said it aims to attract 32.5 million tourists, including 13.5 million foreigners, to the capital city this year, inducing them to spend 31.27 trillion won.
To that end, it will open an online Seoul tourism channel on YouTube in March and develop 20 new sightseeing routes that will include historic and cultural attractions, filming sites of popular dramas and renowned restaurants.
(Yonhap)
