Memorandum Signed with Korea Tourism Organization to Expand Japanese Tourists Visiting Korea and Accelerate Outbound Promotion

The Japan Association of Travel Agents (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Hiroyuki Takahashi; hereinafter referred to as JATA) and the Korea Tourism Organization (Headquarters: Wonju, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province; President: Park Seong-hyeok) signed a memorandum of understanding on April 10, 2026, to expand the number of Japanese tourists visiting South Korea. (Right: Korea Tourism Organization President Park Seong-hyeok, Left: JATA Chairman Hiroyuki Takahashi) [Background and Purpose of the Memorandum] The number of Japanese tourists visiting South Korea in 2025 increased by 13.3% from the previous year to approximately 3.65 million, breaking the previous record for the first time in 13 years since approximately 3.52 million in 2012. On the other hand, the number of tourists visiting Japan from South Korea recorded approximately 9.46 million in 2025, which is 2.6 times the number of Japanese tourists visiting South Korea. Although visits to South Korea account for 25% of all Japanese overseas travelers, this gap is still significant. In order to correct this imbalance, JATA, in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization, has been working on sending tourists utilizing local Korean tourism resources, such as events represented by the "Haman Nakhwa Nori Japan Day" held in Gyeongsangnam-do. The Korea Tourism Organization has set a target of 4.5 million Japanese visitors to South Korea in 2026. By signing this memorandum and clarifying the details of cooperation, we aim to further expand the number of tourists visiting South Korea. The Korea Tourism Organization (hereinafter referred to as Party A) and the Japan Association of Travel Agents (hereinafter referred to as Party B) will cooperate as follows with the aim of expanding Japanese tourists visiting South Korea over the three years from FY2026 to FY2028. 1. Party A and Party B will cooperate in product planning and sales promotion activities utilizing Korean tourism contents (30 Selected Korean Gourmet Foods, 30 Selected Korean Scenic Spots, 30 Selected Small Korean Cities, etc.) and Japan-exclusive special events such as "Haman Nakhwa Nori" provided by Party A, in order to promote visits to local areas in South Korea and increase the added value of Korean tour products offered by Party B's member companies. 2. Party A and Party B will cooperate to promote the participation of Party B's member companies in campaigns to promote Japanese travel to South Korea conducted by Party A, as well as product planning and sales promotion activities, and will cooperate in PR linked to Party B's overseas travel promotion project "Go Overseas More!". 3. Party A and Party B will cooperate in product planning and sales promotion activities for charter flights between regions of Japan and South Korea planned by Party B's member companies. 4. Party A and Party B will hold projects such as the South Korea Destination Group Tour Commendation Project to lead to an increase in group tour orders for Party B's member companies, aiming for the expansion and stabilization of group tours to South Korea. 5. Other initiatives related to the above. In order to confirm the above contents, two copies of this memorandum shall be prepared, and Party A and Party B shall each retain one copy. April 10, 2026 (Date of signing)