This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2010) |
Formation | 1962 |
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Legal status | Statutory organization |
Affiliations | Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |
Website | kto |
Korea Tourism Organization | |
Hangul | 한국관광공사 |
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Hanja | 韓國觀光公社 |
Revised Romanization | Hanguk Gwangwang Gongsa |
McCune–Reischauer | Han'guk Kwan'gwang Kongsa |
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO; Korean: 한국관광공사) is an organization of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is commissioned to promote the country's tourism industry.
The KTO was established in 1962 as a government-invested corporation responsible for the South Korean tourism industry according to the International Tourism Corporation Act.[1] The organization promotes Korea as a tourist destination to attract foreign tourists. Starting in the 1980s, domestic tourism promotion also became a function of the KTO.
Inbound visitors totaled over 6 million in 2006[2] and the tourism industry is said to be one of the factors that has some influence on the Korean economy.[3]