Train fare fully refunded, deep discounts on offer: Ministry launches 'Travel This Autumn' campaign

The government and public institutions are rolling out a shared-growth policy to redirect autumn travel demand toward non-metropolitan and depopulated regions, aiming to revive sluggish local economies. The initiative is designed to ease the cost burden on travelers while injecting economic vitality into regional communities through increased consumer spending.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Tourism Organization, is launching the "2026 Travel This Autumn" campaign to encourage domestic travel and build a virtuous cycle of regional economic revitalization. The campaign runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

The ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization will hold a launch ceremony Tuesday afternoon at KT&G Sangsang Planet in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to mark the campaign's start and introduce its various benefits. The campaign has adopted the slogan "Autumn deep, travel light," reflecting its aim to reduce the financial burden of travel.

Road trippers can earn points through the T-map navigation app for visiting depopulated regions. Travelers who pledge eco-friendly and safe travel practices and drive at least 30 kilometers from their starting point to reach a depopulated area will receive a digital stamp and points for each local municipality visited. Points are capped at 30,000, with additional bonuses of 2,000 points for electric vehicle drivers, 5,000 points for using a digital tourism resident card and 2,000 points for posting a video review.

Train fare discounts continue into autumn. Travelers who visit and verify a stay at one of 41 designated tourist sites in depopulated regions covered under an agreement with Korail can receive a discount voucher equivalent to 100 percent of their train fare. Theme trains on five routes offer a 50 percent discount, and the "Naeilro Pass" is discounted by 20,000 won ($15).

Domestic round-trip airfare purchases made through Naver's flight booking service come with bonus Naver Pay points — 10,000 won per person for inland routes and 5,000 won per person for Jeju routes. The benefit applies to up to four passengers per booking, for a maximum of 40,000 won on inland routes and 20,000 won on Jeju routes.

Rental car discounts are also available. For rentals of 24 hours or more in 64 coastal cities and counties outside the greater Seoul area, travelers receive a 10,000 won discount; rentals of 48 hours or more qualify for a 20,000 won discount. In Jeju, the discounts are 5,000 won and 10,000 won respectively. The offer applies only to hybrid, electric and LPG vehicles, and discount vouchers are valid from Oct. 1 through Oct. 31.

A "2026 Second-Half Accommodation Sale Festa" will also be held to ease lodging costs. Around 80,000 discount vouchers for accommodations outside the greater Seoul area will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis — one per person — starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 22 through online travel agency channels. The vouchers are valid through Nov. 8.

Island-region discount vouchers, introduced for the first time this year, offer 50,000 won off accommodation products priced at 70,000 won or more, and 30,000 won off products priced below 70,000 won. A total of 10,000 island-region vouchers and 70,000 non-metropolitan and multi-night stay vouchers will be distributed. Details on participating regions and available quantities can be found on the official website of the "2026 Korea Accommodation Sale Festa" or through its call center.

Campers can also benefit from a 10,000 won discount voucher for campsite bookings. The vouchers are available through online reservation platforms from Tuesday through Nov. 28 and can be used at registered campsites from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

A "Regional Love Vacation Support" program will refund 50 percent of travel expenses in the form of mobile regional gift certificates. Visitors to designated second-half program destinations can receive up to 100,000 won per person — or up to 140,000 won for youth travelers — as a refund on half their expenses. Applicants must submit a travel plan in advance, obtain approval from the relevant local government and then provide proof of actual expenditure to initiate the refund. Eligible destinations include Hwacheon-gun in Gangwon Province; Goseong-gun, Sancheong-gun, Hamyang-gun, Miryang and Geochang-gun in South Gyeongsang Province; Andong and Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province; Seocheon-gun and Taean-gun in South Chungcheong Province; and Jangheung-gun, Yeonggwang-gun and Wando-gun in South Jeolla Province.

To support tourism recovery in Geoje and Tongyeong, which suffered flood damage, the campaign will promote local tourism content and travel products in those areas and hold discount, visitor-attraction and check-in verification events in conjunction with the "Travel This Autumn" initiative.

Starting Monday, Gmarket's travel product sale will offer discounts of up to 50 percent, capped at 50,000 won, on domestic travel products. The products are valid for use from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30. Participants in the "Worker Vacation Support" program can also receive discounts of up to 50 percent, capped at 50,000 won, on accommodation, admission tickets and transportation through the Vacation Shop platform.

"5 People, 5 Colors, Taste Travel," a public participation program, will operate across 25 regions nationwide under five themes. The official website listing more than 10,000 regional tourist attractions selected by experts and the public — the 100×100 project — is also recommended as a reference for choosing travel destinations.

The "2026 Korea Grand Festival," a national-scale discount event, runs from Oct. 29 through Nov. 15. It will offer discounts on digital Onnuri gift certificates and regional gift certificates, and the ministry will distribute accommodation discount vouchers ahead of the festival. Related government ministries and business organizations will also participate in regional tourism promotion and collaborative programs.

Local governments and institutions are adding their own discounts. Daegu will cut fares on its downtown tourism loop route by 30 percent, and the Korean Buddhist Cultural Projects Organization will discount temple stay costs by up to 50 percent in November. Korea Rural Community Corporation will offer up to 40 percent off its rural tour pass, and the National Sejong Arboretum will halve admission prices for Friday and Saturday evening openings in October.

Full details on the campaign are available on the official "Travel Month" website.