Tourists flock to a welcome center in Myeong-dong, central Seoul, during 2024 Seoul Welcome Week in May. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Association are holding the 2024 Seoul Welcome Week, which is aimed at foreign tourists. The initiative spans eight days from Tuesday, aligning with the National Day of the People's Republic of China and the peak autumn travel season, the city government said Monday.

The city plans to encourage international tourists to revisit Seoul by providing a hospitality program consisting of various events to create rich and special memories in Seoul.

The poster for 2024 Seoul Welcome Week / Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Association

Under the theme "Seoul's Autumn, Color Your Memories," the city has unveiled welcome signs on outdoor electronic displays in popular tourist areas like Hongdae and Gangnam.

A special welcome center has also been set up in Myeong-dong, one of the most frequently visited spots for foreign tourists. It is located in front of the Migliore Hotel.

The center offers travel information and assistance to visitors, with staff on hand at all times to address any questions about exploring the city. To better serve international tourists, the city has hired people who are fluent in Japanese, Chinese and English.

In addition to helping visitors navigate the city, the center provides complimentary welcome drinks, such as various traditional Korean teas packaged in cans.

Visitors can also enjoy participating in interactive cultural programs, such as crafting their own key rings by combining Seoul boarding passes with traditional Korean jewelry tassels and engaging in traditional games.

A lottery event offers a chance to win souvenirs, including cutlery sets, traditional snacks, mugs and trendy cool bags. Other attractions include a photo zone and welcome agents dressed in character masks, aiming to boost engagement and enhance the experience for international tourists in Seoul.

The welcome week event, held in May this year, saw an average of 2,000 foreign tourists per day, with a total of 15,000 visitors participating in various activities and events over the eight days. According to the city's survey, 98 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction with their experience in Seoul.

The city government is pursuing initiatives like this with the goal of attracting 30 million foreign tourists by 2026. The city aims for each visitor to spend an average of 3 million won ($2,300), stay for seven days and achieve a 70 percent revisit rate.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, a total of 7.7 million foreign tourists visited Korea in the first half of this year. Chinese tourists topped the list at 2.22 million, followed by 1.43 million Japanese, 680,000 Taiwanese and 640,000 Americans.

"We hope foreign tourists will create meaningful memories in Seoul through this event," said Kim Young-hwan, director general of the Tourism and Sports Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

"We aim to make Seoul a city where visitors want to stay longer and return by promoting a culture of hospitality centered on smiles and kindness."