A 1,400-member incentive travel group from India will arrive in Seoul in three batches between Sept. 6 and 11, marking the second-largest group of its kind from India to visit Seoul, the city government said Tuesday.
It will be the largest incentive group from India since 3,257 employees of HDFC Bank visited in 2023.
The group, organized by global nutrition company Herbalife, initially considered Georgia as its destination, but Seoul was selected following two inspection trips in June and July, according to the city government.
The Seoul Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization and members of the Seoul MICE Alliance participated in the second inspection, introducing the city's tourism content and infrastructure.
"The visit by Herbalife’s incentive travel group from India demonstrates how Seoul's world-class MICE competitiveness is translating into the attraction of large international groups," said Cho Sung-ho, director general of Seoul's Tourism and Sports Bureau.
"It also shows that Seoul is being chosen not only as a venue for international conferences, but as a leading MICE destination where visitors can combine business with tourism and cultural experiences."
MICE refers to meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions, a high-value segment of the tourism industry that typically brings large groups of business travelers to a destination.
Each batch will spend four days and three nights in Seoul, staying at four five-star hotels and visiting major attractions including Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village and Myeong-dong, the city government reported.
According to the Union of International Associations, Seoul hosted 216 international meetings in 2025, ranking third worldwide and first in Asia for the second consecutive year.
Meanwhile, India is emerging as a new source for Seoul’s incentive travel industry, which has traditionally relied heavily on Southeast Asian countries. Around 1,000 Indian incentive travelers visited Seoul during the first seven months of this year, while nearly 2,000 are expected in September alone.
yunapark@heraldcorp.com