Busan is launching a major tourism campaign combining rail discounts with local festivals to attract visitors.
The city announced it will begin full operation of the "Busan Festival Express" rail-linked tourism promotion starting May 13. The program offers discounts of up to 50 percent on KTX and other Busan-bound train fares while connecting travelers to local festivals, performances, and exhibitions, with the goal of building a "year-round tourism city."
The campaign runs intensively through September, with tourists able to book 13 themed packages through the Korail Talk app and Korail website. Products are divided into "tourism packages" combining tours and accommodation, and "ticket bundles" focused on performances and exhibitions.
Key offerings include packages tied to the Gijang Anchovy Festival in April, Haeundae Sand Festival in May, and Busan Port Festival in June. Major events such as the Busan Mobility Show in June, Busan International Rock Festival in October, and G-Star 2026 in November will be offered as value packages bundling train discounts with admission tickets.
Building on its experience attracting thousands of visitors through previous rail-linked tourism products such as the "Night View Festival," "Gourmet Festival," and "Ocean Festival," the city's strategy this time focuses aggressively on capturing demand for festival-centered extended-stay tourism.
The plan particularly targets visitors from the Seoul metropolitan area, aiming to encourage visits and extend stays to create a virtuous cycle that expands local spending.
"We will provide tourists with a differentiated experience by combining train discounts with Busan's unique festival content," Mayor Park Heong-jun said. "We will continue to develop extended-stay tourism products to enhance our competitiveness as a tourism city."
