Korea and China are launching their first joint travel industry exchange, aiming to draw international visitors away from the capital’s primary tourist hubs and into the country's historic regional centers. The initiative, led by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism alongside the Korea Tourism Organization and the Korea Association of Travel Agents, kicked off Thursday in Incheon before moving to the historic city of Andong. The campaign comes as Korea seeks to address long-standing geographical imbalances in inbound travel. Although foreign arrivals continue to grow, the overwhelming majority of international tourists remain heavily concentrated in Seoul and the southern resort island of Jeju. This imbalance leaves provinces struggling with economic stagnation and rural population decline, even as regional infrastructure stands ready. Because China remains Korea's largest source market for group travel, bilateral cooperation represents a crucial lever for routing sustained visitor traffic directly into secondary markets. The opening event in Incheon brings together roughl