Foreign tourists on an express bus [Photo=Shinsegae Simon]
Shinsegae Simon is enhancing transportation and shopping infrastructure at Yeoju Premium Outlet to meet the growing demand from foreign tourists.
On June 17, Shinsegae Simon announced an increase in the frequency of its direct express bus service connecting the Gangnam Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Yeoju Premium Outlet, adding one round trip on weekdays.
The service, operated by Dongbu Express, now runs eight round trips on weekdays and ten on weekends and holidays. New departures from the Gangnam Terminal at 7 p.m. and from Yeoju Premium Outlet at 9 p.m. allow for shopping plans extending into the late afternoon.
Since its launch in July 2023, the route has seen steady usage from both domestic and foreign individual tourists (FIT). As of last month, the cumulative number of passengers reached approximately 250,000, with foreign users more than doubling compared to last year.
Shinsegae Simon is also expanding its 'One-Day Bus Tour' package aimed at foreign tourists visiting Yeoju Premium Outlet. Starting July 1, the frequency of this tour will increase from three to five times a week. The tour departs from major tourist hubs in Seoul, including Myeongdong and Hongdae, allowing tourists to enjoy about six hours of shopping, dining, and relaxation before returning to their starting point.
To enhance shopping convenience, Shinsegae Simon has introduced international payment services such as WeChat Pay, Alipay, and Line Pay, along with exclusive discounts for foreign customers and a one-stop tax refund kiosk to improve the shopping environment for FIT clients.
A Shinsegae Simon representative stated, "We will continue to strengthen related infrastructure and services to ensure foreign customers can enjoy shopping and tourism more conveniently."
Meanwhile, the Korea Tourism Organization reported that foreign tourists' domestic card spending reached 2.1222 trillion won last month, a 67.1% increase compared to the same month last year, marking the highest growth rate since 2023. Notably, spending by Chinese tourists has tripled compared to the same month last year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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