Hotel Tax Refund Incentive Offered to Fit Visitors to Korea

To attract more overseas visitors to Korea, the Korean government has implemented a new tax refund policy on hotel stays in Korea effective until end of April, 2015. The incentive policy is applicable to only FIT (foreign independent travellers) who stay in a VAT Tax Refund certified hotel for a total of more than two nights and less than thirty.

Participating hotels in the scheme are subject to change and the list of hotels where the tax refund is available at any one time must be checked on the detailed list of VAT Tax Refund hotels on the 'Visit Korea' website.

In order to receive the tax refund, eligible recipients should check the process to confirm tax refund availability, receive the hotel tax refund guide along with the check list upon check-in, confirm with the hotel eligibility, then submit the hotel tax refund check list upon check out to receive the Hotel tax refund form. When departing Korea the form must be presented at designated tax refund offices in the duty free zones of select airports to get a cash refund.

The tax refund offer is not available to those making a payment with a company credit card, through a Korean national, for conference and incentive groups and package tour groups are not eligible to receive the Hotel Tax Refund which is entirely aimed at independent foreign tourists to Korea only.

The tax refund service is only available at Incheon Intl. Airport & Gimpo Intl. Airport (Seoul), Gimhae Intl. Airport (Busan), Jeju Intl. Airport (Jeju Island), and both the major cruise ports of Incheon Port Intl. Passenger Terminal and Busan Port.

Hotels presently involved in the tax refund scheme range from one star to five star properties in Seoul city. The scheme also includes hotels in Busan, Incheon, Gwangju, Gyeongju, Jeju Island (all the popular tourist areas) as well as hotels in regional areas as well.

Full details of the Tax Refund scheme as well as the list of hotels presently offering the tax refund are listed on the 'Visit Korea' website www.visitkorea.or.kr click on the button on the homepage or search 'Hotel Tax Refund Policy'.