The City of Busan is building an experience-based tourism hub for fans and visitors centered on content from BTS, the global K-pop sensation. The metropolitan government is launching a large-scale hospitality project linking Busan Station, Gimhae International Airport, and the Busan Eurasia Platform, accelerating efforts to strengthen the city's brand as a global tourism destination.
The Busan Metropolitan Government and the Busan Tourism Organization will operate the "BTS THE CITY Arirang Busan Welcome Center – Check-in Busan" at the Busan Eurasia Platform from the 5th through the 21st, the city said on the 2nd. The welcome center will serve as the primary tourism hub that fans and visitors from around the world head to first upon arriving in Busan.
The event has drawn particular attention for its connection to "BTS THE CITY," a global project utilizing the BTS intellectual property (IP). The welcome center is included in the official stamp rally course and is expected to become a must-visit destination for domestic and international fans.
The city has designed the welcome center as an experience-based platform combining tourism, culture, and digital technology, going beyond the level of a simple information desk. Visitors can receive tourism information, transportation guidance, and details on festivals and performances all in one place, and can also use luggage storage and delivery services. The setup allows concertgoers to freely tour downtown Busan without the burden of heavy luggage.
A variety of experience content will also be on offer. The center will operate dance and singing programs using BTS music and videos, and visitors can commemorate their visit to Busan with photos taken at booths featuring special frames. Notably, an AI-based live docent service will recommend Busan tourism courses tailored to each visitor's preferences.
The city plans to extend the event throughout Busan. A large "K-POP Listener Bugi" sculpture will be installed in the Busan Station plaza, and sales of regional products, cultural performances, and policy promotion events will be held in the area around the station. Traditional cultural performances such as Miryang Baekjungnori and Gamnae Tug-of-War will also be presented, offering a tourism model that combines BTS content with Busan's unique cultural assets.
At Gimhae International Airport, photo zones and experience events for arriving visitors will create a hospitable atmosphere from the moment travelers land in Busan.
The project is a strategic move by the city to maximize the economic ripple effects of large-scale concerts by linking them with urban tourism, while also boosting Busan's competitiveness as a global tourism destination.
"The welcome center will serve as both the starting point and an experiential space for visitors' Busan journey," said Acting Busan Mayor Kim Kyung-deok. "We will use major cultural events as a catalyst to encourage longer stays and spending, drive repeat visits, and connect this momentum to the growth of Busan's tourism industry."
