South Korea Office Update
South Korea 10th Year Inclusion in Visa Waiver Program Celebrated
The U.S Embassy in South Korea commemorated the 10th anniversary of Asian country’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
The event - held on February 27 at Habib House, the residence of the U.S Ambassador to the Republic of Korea - was attended by more than 90 representatives from business, government, and the media.
The program allows Korean business and tourist travelers to complete an online application for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization to determine if they qualify for visa-free travel. Korea currently ranks fifth among all 38 VWP-participating countries for total number of visitors.
Harry Harris, the U.S Ambassador to South Korea, said the program symbolizes the strong ties between the United States and South Korea.
David Ruch, president of Visit USA Committee-Korea, highlighted the positive impact of the visa-free program on the tourism and travel industry. In 2017, the total number of Korean travelers to the U.S reached 2.35 million, a 217 percent increase since 2009.
The event coincides with Brand USA partnering with Korean Air to launch New England tour products, kicking it off with non-stop service between Seoul and Boston, beginning April 12.
Brand USA Korea and Korean Air will collaborate in a promotion with major online travel agencies to highlight the new service. It will include an online event and sales contest to promote New England as the birthplace of America, a region filled with rich history, cultural attractions, and scenic villages. The co-op promotion also includes partnering with seven key Free Independent Travelers (FIT) agencies which participated in the 2018 October New England familiarization tour (MegaFam).
