[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Naver (NAVER(035420)) is expanding its revenue model for creators from shopping to travel. The company plans to strengthen its creator support program by extending the affiliate model—which has proven successful by linking shopping products to content—to Naver’s travel products.

Naver announced on the 24th that it will launch “Travel Connect,” an affiliate service linked to Naver Travel, on “Brand Connect,” its specialized creator partnership platform.

Travel Connect is the second affiliate service following “Shopping Connect,” which was introduced last year. Through Brand Connect, Naver has provided partnership models—such as branded content, Shopping Connect, and group buying—that allow creators to generate revenue by leveraging their expertise and influence.

“Shopping Connect” began beta operations in April of last year and was officially launched in July of the same year. As of August of this year, the number of participating creators exceeded 190,000—a roughly 15-fold increase compared to the beta launch. The number of featured products also rose to over 3.4 million, a nearly ninefold increase over the same period. In July, the total compensation paid to creators increased by approximately 3.5 times compared to the same period last year.

Building on this growth, Naver is expanding its affiliate program into the travel sector. Travel Connect operates on a structure where Naver Travel participates as the affiliate partner, integrating products from within Naver Travel, rather than having individual travel agencies sign up separately.

As a result, creators can browse domestic and international package tours and guided tour products offered by various travel agencies in one place without having to go through separate partnership procedures with each agency. They can select products that match the themes of their content and the characteristics of their audience, thereby monetizing content that reflects their travel experiences, preferences, and expertise.

Naver also expects that travel product providers will be able to broaden their reach to potential customers through the content created by a diverse range of creators.

Lee Soo-ji, Head of Naver Brand Connect, stated, “Travel is a field where a creator’s real-life experiences, preferences, and expertise can naturally translate into useful content and product recommendations.” She added, “Going forward, we will expand our partnership network to include the diverse travel products offered by Naver Travel and continue to enhance the service so that creators and the travel ecosystem can grow together.”