Working Hand in Hand toward the Era of 30 Million International Travelers to Korea: Driving Growth in Rail Tourism

Klook and KORAIL Team up for a Real-time Rail Ticket Booking System for Foreigners // Official launch in Q1 next year for KTX, Saemaeul-ho, and Mugunghwa-ho trains

- A synergistic partnership to drive development and digital transformation of local travel offerings
- Integrated marketing including seasonal campaigns and influencer collaborations, with prompt and reliable AI-based customer service
 

[Klook and KORAIL team up for a real-time rail ticket booking system for foreigners. Lee Min-seong, head of the customer marketing team of KORAIL (left), and Lee Zun-ho, Klook Korea General Manager (right), are taking a commemorative photo at the railway ticket sales contract signing ceremony.]

Klook, a global platform for booking accommodations, transportation services, and activities, announced on October 24 that it had officially signed a sales agreement with KORAIL (Korea Railroad Corporation) on the afternoon of October 23 for a real-time rail ticket booking service for foreigners.
 
Through this partnership, Klook and KORAIL aim to establish a foundation that enables international tourists to use domestic rail services more easily and conveniently, while revitalizing local tourism and creating a virtuous cycle of regional economic growth by leveraging railway infrastructure.
 
The official booking service is planned to launch in the first quarter of next year, following system development between the two companies. Through this service, not only KTX (high-speed trains) but also general trains such as Mugunghwa-ho and Saemaeul-ho will be available for booking, providing international tourists with access to a broader range of rail routes nationwide. It is expected to significantly improve travel accessibility to smaller cities and local tourist destinations, moving beyond tourism reliant on metropolitan areas. Klook will also proactively develop local travel offerings and continually use the booking data to enhance service quality.

 
“During the first half of this year, bookings for Klook’s local travel offerings increased by nearly three times year-on-year, indicating a rapid rise in local tourism demand. The number of local travel offerings also grew by 40% compared to the first half of last year. By working closely with KORAIL, Klook seeks to accelerate its growth momentum further, boost local tourism, and drive regional economic growth centered on rail tourism,” said Lee Zun-ho, Klook Korea General Manager. “Leveraging our global network and expertise, Klook will continue to work in close collaboration with our partners to create a travel environment that enables international tourists to easily and conveniently explore Korea’s diverse regions and experience their distinctive charms,” he added.
 
Klook has a proven track record of successfully addressing the local travel needs of international tourists through the real-time express bus booking service in Korea. Building on this success, the company continues to demonstrate its expertise across a wide range of mobility services, including rental cars, ferries, airport pickups, and local transportation, thereby contributing to the growth of the global travel industry. It also has extensive international experience and expertise, having operated rail ticket booking services across key destinations, including Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Europe.
 
In addition, Klook will expand its marketing and customer support initiatives to promote the new service and make it more accessible. With dedicated teams across more than 20 countries, the company plans to push forward with country-specific marketing strategies, including seasonal campaigns, digital advertising, and influencer collaborations to increase awareness of railway services and improve accessibility for international tourists.
 
Klook has resolved language and payment barriers for global travelers by supporting 15 languages, 40 currencies, and more than 40 convenient payment options worldwide. It has already established a global-standard customer support system. Klook operates a global customer support team, powered by professional consultants and AI technology, that provides 24/7 assistance to promptly address any issues or inquiries that international tourists may have during their railway journeys in Korea. Notably, the company will leverage its unique AI-powered features, including automatic inquiry sorting, a brief overview of the customer service experience, and translation services to handle customer inquiries more efficiently, and continuously enhance customer support quality to improve customer satisfaction.
  

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