Seoul, South Korea — In a decisive push to foster dynamic local economies and nurture emerging enterprises, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) hosted its annual showcase events on November 10, highlighting breakthrough achievements in the nation's tourism startup ecosystem.

The core of the gathering took place at the "Masil" community hub in central Seoul, where the 2026 Tourism Venture Final Demo Day unfolded. Bringing together approximately 100 stakeholders—including budding entrepreneurs, established tourism ventures, and prominent venture capital firms—the event served as a high-stakes arena for business expansion. Fourteen selected startups stepped up to deliver investor pitches, detailing proprietary business models and scaling strategies.

Significantly, the panel of evaluators extended beyond traditional tourism-focused funds to include pension-backed institutional investors, underscoring the rising market viability of the sector. Through rigorous mock investment evaluations, six standout companies earned top recognition:

Me-in Seoul, specializing in foreigner-targeted travel video data analytics;
Ravenly, a customer behavior-driven retail conversion optimization platform;
About Fishing, an all-in-one marine leisure ecosystem merging info-sharing, vessel booking, and gear retail; and
The Service Platform, which streamlines tax-refund solutions for international shoppers.
The pitches successfully generated over 40 subsequent consultation sessions with investors, which the KTO aims to shepherd into concrete financial backing. Concurrently, regional creative economy hubs provided personalized 1:1 mentorship to assist young entrepreneurs and guide startups expanding into regional markets.

Breathing New Life into Declining Regions

Running parallel to the demo day was the performance-sharing convention for the 2026 BETTER里 (Better Lee) Project, drawing some 60 representatives from local governments and industry sectors. This unique initiative pairs innovative startup concepts with unique local assets to combat population decline and stimulate regional tourism. This year's pilot initiatives focused intensely on Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province and Gimje City in North Jeolla Province.

Fourteen participating ventures presented impressive local case studies:

Gutenberg introduced "DasansEOrok," an immersive residency program honoring the scholarly legacy of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong by offering writing studios, lodging, and e-book publication support.
Sam-i-ilsim showcased an inclusive travel model blending specialized welfare services for families with developmentally disabled children alongside regional sightseeing in Gangjin.
Moon Academy curated a health-centric "Run-Stay" program leveraging the coastal winds of Gimje's Saemangeum area.
Giru transformed underutilized vacant spaces into unique cultural immersion hubs for international visitors.
Looking ahead, the KTO briefed local government representatives on the roadmap for the 2027 BETTER里 Project, with applications open through November 13 for municipalities eager to host future pilot programs.

"True innovation in tourism must transcend corporate success and translate directly into revitalized local communities," remarked Min Byung-sun, Head of the KTO Tourism Industry Division. "We remain fully committed to transforming today's demonstrated growth potential into enduring partnerships and sustainable regional prosperity."

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