The Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) is a public-private joint venture company primarily funded by the Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul Metropolitan Government

Seoul Metropolitan Government is the administrative organization of Seoul. The mayor is elected to a four year term by the Seoul citizens and is responsible for the administration of the city government...

 and is commissioned to promote the city’s tourism and convention industries.

Overview

The STO was established on February 4 2008 as a public-private invested corporation responsible for the Seoul tourism industry. The STO is focused on promoting and enhancing the attractiveness of Seoul as a destination for international visitors. The STO seeks to increase the numbers of foreign visitors through promotional campaigns backed by incentive programs to international conventions. Marketing efforts includes retail approaches for individual tourists such as their retail souvenir shop, location in Insadong, Jungno Gu and the Seoul Center for Culture and Tourism located in Myeongdong

Myeongdong

Myeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.99 km² with a population of 3,529 and is mostly a commercial area, being one of Seoul's main shopping and tourism districts.-History:Myeongdong dates back to the...

, Jung-gu

Jung-gu, Seoul

Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .-Overview:...

 Seoul. The main office and Jeodong Seoul Tourism Center are located in the Jung-gu district (near Myeongdong) in downtown Seoul.

History of STO

• 2008 : The Seoul Tourism Organization is established as a public-private Joint venture company.
• 2008 : The STO hosts the Seoul Tourism Awards

Major functions of the STO

1. International Marketing: The Seoul Tourism Organizations provides overseas marketing services, technical support for international conventions and incentives for investors in the tourism sector. The company is a central source for overseas tourist information concerning Seoul and develops and distributes merchandise linked to city promotions.
2. Development: In addition to helping plan new hotels, performance facilities, convention complexes and theme parks, the Seoul Tourism Organization advises on the development of the city’s transportation, restaurant, and entertainment industries. The organization supports also tourism in fields that include medical treatment, cultural events and international sports.
3. Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE): Employing incentive programs to draw major international gatherings to Seoul, the Seoul Convention Bureau
   Seoul Convention Bureau
   The Seoul Convention Bureau, or SCB, exists to promote Seoul to the global leisure travel convention and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions industries....
   
   (SCB) under the STO, promotes a broad spectrum of activities, known as MICE businesses. In close cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Tourism Organization is a key player in the city’s effort to become a destination of exceptional value for meeting planners from around the world.

External links

• i Tour Seoul - The Official Seoul Tourism Guide Site
• Seoul Convention Bureau's official website