Article 1 (Purpose) The purpose of this Ordinance is to improve the tourism environment and to develop and support the tourism industry of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Article 2 (Definitions) The terms used in this Ordinance shall be defined as follows:
1. The term "tourism business operator" means a business operator defined in subparagraph 2 of Article 2 of the Tourism Promotion Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act");
2. The term "tourism business operators' organization" means a tourism association by certain category of businesses or by region, which has obtained permission for its establishment from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as the "Mayor") under Article 45 of the Act;
3. The term "tourism promotion institution" means an institution which Seoul Metropolitan Government has invested or contributed in, or funded;
4. The term "tourism products" means goods and services sold for the purpose of attracting tourists, such as tourism resources, accommodation facilities, and means of transportation;
5. The term "special tourist zone" means an area designated under subparagraph 11 of Article 2 of the Act;
6. The term "culture and tour guide" means a person defined in subparagraph 12 of Article 2 of the Act;
7. The term "project executor" means a person referred to in Article 55 (1) of the Act.

Article 3 (Scope of Application) Unless otherwise prescribed in other statutes, regulations, or municipal ordinances, the promotion of tourism of the Seoul Metropolitan Government shall be governed by this Ordinance.

Article 4 (Comprehensive Tourism Promotion Plan) (1) The Mayor shall formulate and implement a comprehensive plan for efficient development and management of tourism resources of the Seoul Metropolitan Government (hereinafter referred to as "comprehensive tourism promotion plan"):
(2) Matters to be included in a comprehensive tourism promotion plan shall be as follows:
1. Matters concerning the environment and trend of tourism in and out of the country;
2. Matters concerning the targets of and strategies for promotion of tourism;
3. Matters concerning the recognition of policy tasks for promotion of tourism and the promotion plans thereof;
4. Matters concerning the securing of financial resources for promotion of tourism;
5. Matters concerning the facilitation of inducement of tourists and the support therefor;
6. Matters concerning the expansion of tourism infrastructure and the improvement of the tourism environment;
7. Matters concerning the protection, development, use, management, etc. of tourism resources;
8. Matters concerning the development of and public relations activities for tourism products;
9. Matters concerning the training of human resources for tourism and the education to reinforce their professional competency;
10. Other matters necessary for promotion of tourism.
(3) In formulating a comprehensive tourism promotion plan, the Mayor shall collect in advance the opinions of the relevant experts, tourism-related institutions and organizations, citizens, etc.

Article 5 (Public Relations Activities for Tourism and Development of Tourism Resources) (1) In order to facilitate international tourism and to develop tourism of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Mayor may coordinate the public relations activities for tourism in and out of the country, examine promotional materials for tourism, or provide any other necessary support.
(2) The Mayor may promote projects necessary for promotion of tourism of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, such as encouragement for tourism, increase of citizens' welfare in tourism, and development of tourism resources.
(3) The Mayor shall strive to enable tourists to have a broad variety of experience, by developing and disseminating distinguished tourism products in which the special characteristics of the Seoul Metropolitan Government are reflected, by connecting tourism products with tourism resources such as history, culture, arts, and nature.

Article 6 (Support for Special Tourist Zones) (1) The Mayor may, under Article 72 of the Act, render support necessary for promotion of special tourist zones, including increase of convenience in activities of foreign tourists who visit special tourist zones.
(2) The Mayor may render necessary support to exemplary special tourist zones based on the result of the appraisal of special tourist zones.

Article 7 (Utilization, etc. of Culture and Tour Guides) (1) In order to deliver the knowledge systematically to tourists on tourism resources, such as the history, culture, arts, and nature, of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Mayor may select and utilize persons who have completed an education course for culture and tour guides who are certified under Article 48-6 (2) of the Act as the culture and tour guides of Seoul Metropolitan Government.
(2) The Mayor shall formulate and implement an annual plan for the operation of culture and tour guides, taking into account the estimated number of tourists, current situations of tourism resources, demand for culture and tour guides, etc. In such cases, such plan shall include the training, placement, and utilization of culture and tour guides, and other relevant matters.
(3) The Mayor shall manage and frequently check the current state of activities and actual working conditions and work capacity of culture and tour guides, tourists' satisfaction, etc., and the result of such management and checks shall be reflected in the operation plan of culture and tour guides for the following year.
(4) In order to improve the qualification as culture and tour guides, the Mayor shall provide refresher courses that enable them to maintain and develop knowledge and capacity necessary for explaining about culture and tourism resources, and may conduct necessary education, such as training of new culture and tour guides, if necessary.
(5) The Mayor may subsidize expenses required for the activities of culture and tour guides within the budget.

Article 8 (Tourist Information Centers and Tourism Information Centers) (1) In order to provide tour guides, public relations services and all types of convenience to tourists, the Mayor shall establish tourist information centers and tourism information centers in the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
(2) Tourist information centers and tourism information centers shall take charge of the following matters:
1. Matters concerning tour guides and travel counseling;
2. Matters concerning public relations activities related to tourism;
3. Matters concerning the processing of complaints reports on tourism;
4. Matters concerning the collection of tour guide materials;
5. Other affairs necessary for promotion of tourism and the increase of convenience for tourists.

Article 9 (Promotion of Conferences, etc. to Attract Tourists) (1) The Mayor may promote projects that make it possible to facilitate promotion and encouragement for conferences, incentive travels, exhibitions, etc., which are effective in attracting tourists and which can also protect the ecosystem and strengthen the competitiveness of related industries.
(2) In promoting any project under paragraph (1), the Mayor may entrust a tourism promotion institution, specialized institution or organization with the project or have such institution or organization to promote the project on his/her behalf. In such cases, the Mayor may subsidize necessary expenses within the budget.

Article 10 (Education of Tourism Workers) The Mayor may provide support necessary for the education of tourism workers who have obtained qualifications to be a tourism worker under Article 38 of the Act and other persons engaged in tourism services to improve their work ability.

Article 11 (Statistics of Tourism) (1) The Mayor may compile the statistics of tourism at home and abroad in order to effectively establish and implement a comprehensive tourism promotion plan under Article 4 and to utilize them for the tourism industry.
(2) The Mayor may, if necessary to compile the statistics of tourism, investigate actual conditions or request cooperation from any public institution, research institute, corporation, organization, private enterprise, individual, etc.
(3) The Mayor may disclose the compiled statistics of tourism to citizens through the website, etc.

Article 12 (Financial Assistance) (1) The Mayor may, under Article 76 (2) of the Act and Article 20 (1) of the Act on the Operation of Local Government-Invested or –Funded Institutions, grant subsidies within the budget to tourism business operators, tourism business operators' organizations and tourism promotion institutions that operate any of the following businesses in the Seoul Metropolitan Government:
1. Training of exemplary tourism business operators;
2. Provision of support in public relations activities, such as participation in exhibitions for tourists and presentation meetings to attract tourists;
3. Designation and development of exemplary accommodation facilities;
4. Development of tourism resources and provision of support therefor;
5. Development of excellent tourist souvenirs;
6. Development of city tour business;
7. Development of tourism products;
8. Training of tourism specialists and education of tourism workers;
9. Alleviation of inconvenience for tourists and creation of a hospitable atmosphere;
10. Tourism business utilizing traditional resources and natural resources;
11. Online support for tourism;
12. Invigoration of medical tourism;
13. Other business necessary the promotion of tourism.
(2) Matters not prescribed in this Ordinance concerning the application for, and payment and settlement of accounts, etc. of subsidies shall be governed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Management of Local Subsidies.
(3) Notwithstanding Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Public Property and Commodity Management, the Mayor may reduce rents for public property for project executors of tourist destinations, etc. within the limit of 30/100, under Article 76 (3) of the Act and Article 64-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act.
(4) Any project executor of tourist destinations, etc. who intends to be granted the reduction of rents for public property under paragraph (3) shall file an application for the reduction with the Mayor.

Article 13 (Facilitation of Private Participation) The Mayor shall increase the participation of volunteer citizens to promote tourism and tour guide in a seamless way and strive to facilitate private individuals' participation, such as by securing spaces for tourism services through public-private cooperation.

Article 14 (Entrustment of Affairs) (1) The Mayor may entrust all or part of the affairs related to tourism under this Ordinance to a corporation, organization or an individual that has expertise or have it perform such affairs on his/her behalf.
(2) In any of the following cases, the Mayor may entrust the affairs related to tourism to a tourism promotion institution or have a tourism promotion institution perform such affairs on his/her behalf preferentially over other corporations, organizations or individuals:
1. Where there is any provision in any other statute, regulation, or municipal ordinance based on which the duties of Seoul Metropolitan Government may be entrusted to or performed by an agent;
2. Where the nature of the affairs conforms to the purpose of the establishment of the tourism promotion institution and it is necessary to secure public nature;
3. Where it is deemed inefficient to conclude a contract based on competition, in the light of the purpose, nature, etc. of the contract.

Article 15 (Supervision) The Mayor may request any person who has received a subsidy or financial assistance under this Ordinance to report on the business for which such support is provided or take measures necessary for the supervision thereof, including inspection.

Article 16 (Official Commendation) The Mayor may grant an official commendation to any individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to promotion of tourism, in accordance with the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on Official Commendation.

Article 17 (Enforcement Rule) Matters necessary for the enforcement of this Ordinance may be prescribed by rule.