KTO’s flagship event, Discover Korea in Auckland 2025 at the Hilton Auckland, had involvement from about 140 industry professionals — including wholesalers, airlines, media and frontline agents.
‘Demand from New Zealand continues to grow, with strong forward bookings and solid marketing momentum’, says Hyeongjoon Kim, director of KTO Sydney. Korea saw a notable spike in April 2025, with 5,036 Kiwi visitors — up from 3,936 in 2024. A growing appetite for heritage, K-pop, K-beauty, food and culture, is driving year-round interest.
Rahul Sharma, managing director of Exotic Holidays, says Korea ranks in the top 10 of the company’s 62 destinations. ‘It’s mostly a mature FIT market booking eight to 14-day trips, but it also works well as a stopover enroute to Japan, Europe, China, and beyond. It’s a compelling option’.
For the first time, eight leading Korean DMCs took part in this event, presenting a diverse range of products — from luxury, MICE (meetings, incentives, conference and events), ski, wellness, educational and extended-stay programmes. Participants included Holiday Planners, Hforce, Golden Tour Korea, Jane DMC Korea, Sally Tour, Etourism, Magpie DMC Korea, and Travel-Label. Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, China Airlines and Singapore Airlines joined key operators Wendy Wu Tours, Exotic Holidays, Pack Ya Bags and G Adventures in supporting the event.
The gala evening celebrated Korean culture and innovation, featuring themed itineraries, traditional performance, Squid Game-inspired entertainment and Korean fusion dining. Prizes included Korean and Malaysia Airlines tickets, and a G Adventures travel voucher.
Kurt Johnston, Flight Centre Botany won a return flight to Korea with Korean Air; Aimee Way, House of Travel won a return trip to Korea flying Malaysia Airlines, and Jorge Campero, Tandem Travel won: $350 voucher from G Adventures.
KTO is represented in New Zealand by The Walshe Group with Jeeyoon Lee as account manager: jeeyoon.lee@walshegroup.com
All the way from Matamata, Saskia Van Waaijenburg, and Julie Morgan-Hughes, Aspire Group; with Darragh Walshe, Discover Korea
Winner of a flight to Korea with Korean Air Kurt Johnston, Flight Centre Botany; with Korean Air’s New Zealand General Manager Jae Won Park
David Boyce, Mondo Travel; Jane Bittman and Lynsey Brown, World Journeys
Lynda Morrison, Innovative Travel; Therese Brooking, Walk This Way Travel; Tanya Bhatia, AR Luxury Travel
Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours with Samantha Pritchard, House of Travel
Kim Du Plessis, G Adventures with Sharon Race, Race Travel
