SOCAR announced on the 17th that it has signed a business agreement with Gimhae City to promote tourism in Gimhae.
The collaboration between SOCAR and Gimhae City marks the second time following last year, when both parties cooperated for major events such as the national sports festival, the national sports festival for the disabled, and the East Asia cultural city event to respond to increasing tourism demand and expand tourism transportation convenience.
According to this year's agreement, SOCAR will provide members visiting Gimhae with a 50% discount on lending fees until the end of the year. The discount applies to more than 2,700 vehicles located in over 600 SOCAR zones in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam areas, and can be used for 6 hours on weekdays and weekends without distinction. Discount coupons can be downloaded from the 'Coupons' menu in the SOCAR app.
Gimhae City plans to enhance access to car-sharing services by utilizing public infrastructure. To this end, it will establish SOCAR zones in some of the city’s public parking lots that are well-located for transportation, and SOCAR will collaborate with the Gimhae Cultural Tourism Foundation to jointly develop key tourism products and infrastructure in the region.
According to SOCAR data, the number of reservations for SOCAR in Gimhae increased by about 8% compared to 2023. Of these, 20% involved transferring to vehicles at SOCAR zones near railway stations or airports using rail or air transport. The most frequently used transfer point was Gimhae Airport (45%), followed by ▲Busan Station (33%) ▲Changwon Central Station (10%) ▲Jin Young Station (4%). Currently, around 30 SOCAR zones and over 400 vehicles are operated near those transfer points.
An Donghwa, head of the SOCAR Car Sharing Group, noted, "Through collaboration with Gimhae City this year, as well as last year, we can provide a better mobility experience for more tourists and citizens." He added, "We will continue to actively cooperate with local governments to improve service accessibility and contribute to regional tourism and economic development."
Bae Seonyeong, director of the Gimhae Cultural Tourism Bureau, stated, "We expect that cooperation with SOCAR will make it more convenient for tourists to visit Gimhae," and she added, "We will continue to collaborate with various corporations to create a smart tourism city that satisfies both citizens and tourists."