VFS Global partners with Korea Association of Travel Agents to boost South Korea’s tourism

VFS Global, a leading provider of visa and travel services, has partnered with the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) to support and promote inbound tourism to South Korea. The collaboration aims to simplify international travel procedures and expand the country’s appeal as a top destination for global travellers.

The partnership was discussed during a meeting at KATA’s Seoul office on January 9, 2026. Senior representatives from both organisations attended, including Mr. Lee Jin-seok, Chairman of KATA, and Mr. Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global. The meeting focused on leveraging the organisations’ networks to streamline visa facilitation and enhance tourism support services.

Record arrivals signal tourism rebound

VFS Global has been handling visa services for South Korea since 2007, operating seven dedicated visa application centres across four countries and processing over 250,000 Korean visas to date. Its Tourism Services Unit, with 16 years of experience, has supported more than 25 destinations, assisting in destination promotion, trade support, and tourism marketing.


South Korea welcomed a record 18.7 million foreign visitors in 2025, surpassing the 2019 peak of 17.5 million, and aims to attract 30 million tourists by 2030, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The VFS-KATA partnership is expected to further support this growth by improving travel accessibility and promoting South Korea as a global tourism hub.

“We welcome this collaboration with VFS Global as an important step towards strengthening inbound tourism to the Republic of Korea. By working together and leveraging our respective networks, we aim to enhance accessibility, support travel partners globally, and further position Korea as a preferred destination for international travellers,” said Mr. Lee Jin-seok, Chairman, KATA.

“This collaboration with KATA reflects our shared commitment to strengthening inbound tourism to the Republic of Korea. Through closer cooperation, we aim to leverage our extensive global network of Visa Application Centres to support and promote inbound tourism to South Korea,” Mr. Zubin Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global, added.