A breathtaking view to a road to Mt. Moodeung. (Photo: MCST)

Travelers across the nation are flocking to multi-colored foliage and fascinating autumn attractions, particularly during Fall Tourism Week, which runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 6.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of autumn, would-be tourists are asked to select travel destinations meeting their tastes by logging on the website of Fall Tourism Week (fall.visitkoreas.or.kr). They are also encouraged to take advantage of the 1330 tourism interpretation & information hotline, the Government 3.0 Service, run by the Korea Tourism Organization. Would-be travelers are encouraged to trade conventional destinations in this year for exotic experiences.

Twelve “creative” tourism companies, supported by the KTO, offer discounted programs during Tourism Week. 

If you want to enjoy special activities, try “outdoor” programs, in which you can experience such recreation activities as camping, backpacking, riding and climbing all guided by outdoor activities experts. Participants will be given a 10 percent discount during Fall Tourism Week. 

Those who want to experience “exotic downtown Seoul” can enjoy a tour to Gyeongbok Palace while wearing hanbok (traditional Korean clothes), arranged by Hanboknam. The special outing includes destination such as palaces and Bukchon Korean House Village, which will give tourists a glimpse into the Joseon Dynasty. Hanboknam will give a 30 percent hanbok rental discount during the fall tourism week period. Tourists also have the option to go canoeing on Mullaegil Stream in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do.

If that’s not adventurous nough for you, turn to Wabadada’s facility for a “vertical fall” experience, which is a first in the nation. Visitors can enjoy the fascinating ride for only 8,000 won per adult instead of the usual 12,000 won. If that’s too adventurous for you, there are programs specifically made for families. Some of those head out to rural villages; there are also train tours offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has designed regional representative programs offered by Daegu, Busan and Jeollanam-do for the top prize winners during the tourism week. 

Under the theme “Imaginary Daegu,” Daegu offers healing tour programs that allow visitors special access to eight facilities, which are only open to the public during Tourism Week. Some Daegu programs include a tour of the whole city, combining apple farms and a “women’s healing tour” to the Modern Cultural Street.  

Even though the 21st Busan International Film Festival wrapped up Oct. 15, visitors can still experience imageries of the festival. Under the theme, “Discover Germs Hidden in Movies,” programs include a tour of film industry facilities and movie locations. 

Visitors can experience such culinary events such as making fish cakes, the city’s representative food, and regional soju (Korean distilled liquor). Under the theme “Tour Namdo via Riversm the Sea and Railroad,” Jeollanam’s programs include an ecological boat ride along the Yeongsan River, a walkathon to Gangjin Bay, and a music tour to the reed fields along the bay.

The government introduced Tourism Week as part of efforts to boost domestic tourism. The idea came out during the second extended meeting of tourism-related ministries at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 3, 2014. The government steps included providing vacation subsidies to workers at small- and medium-sized businesses and the creation of a tourism week twice per year, one in the spring and another in fall, during which students are given time off for short vacations so families can go on domestic trips together.