Thousands of shopping malls, restaurants and other outlets have joined the initiative by the Seoul City government to provide up to 70 percent in discounts on products and services to foreign tourists as the MERS virus hit the local tourism industry.

The shopping festival titled "Seoul Summer Sale" will begin on July 1 for a one-month run, a city official said Sunday.

Participating outlets include 1,509 outlets ranging from shopping malls, discount stores, health and cosmetics shops, restaurants, exhibition and performing arts centers and transportation forms, the official said, adding they will offer discounts between 5-70 percent on their products and services.

"Welcome Brochures" and "Welcome Kits" with the list of participating outlets, sample cosmetic products and discount coupons will be available to foreign tourists at tourist information centers at airports and downtown Seoul areas.

"We are determined to launch an active campaign to promote Seoul Summer Sale to help reactivate the tourism industry hit by the MERS virus," Kim Jae-yong, a city official in charge of tourism promotion said. (Yonhap)