The first and second weeks of May will be full of travel promotions across Korea.

The country will celebrate the 11-day “Travel Week” from May 1, designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday.

In cooperation with provincial governments, more than 1,168 restaurants, travel agencies and hotels will participate in Travel Week. Royal palaces will offer 50 percent discounts on admission, 26 cities nationwide will conduct special city tour programs and national parks will be open for free.

A total of 251 hotels and resorts will discount accommodation rates and facility fees. During the period, themed trains run by the Korea Railroad Corporation will be available at 20 to 30 percent discounts.

“The week has been designated to motivate workers to spend holidays and vacations traveling to discover beauty across the country,” said Lee Jin-sik, director of the Tourism Policy Division of the Culture Ministry at the press conference on Tuesday. “It also aims to diversify Korean tourists’ choice of vacation seasons.”

This year, May 3-6 will be a long weekend.

July and August are the peak months for travel as about 35 percent of Koreans have summer vacation then. About 6.4 million people traveled nationwide in May last year. The number accounted for 9.6 percent of the annual total of tourists.

During the 11-day promotional period, unusual travel activities and festivals will be held. Guided tours to unexplored places such as industrial cities, beaches on Ulleungdo Island and Namhae city will be available. Popular food streets in each province will offer discounts on local cuisine.

In order to boost the travel initiative, the government is asking the Federation of Korean Industries, a group of conglomerates, and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to encourage employees to take vacations during Travel Week.

Schools in Tongyeong, Muju and Jecheon will take official breaks during the period.

Trains, buses and planes will operate more frequently to meet the possible increase in demand during Travel Week.

For more information about travel programs, visit spring.visitkorea.or.kr.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)