[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization will invest a total of 2.425 billion KRW to revitalize the local tourism industry, which has fallen into severe stagnation due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, by implementing industry-specific support and the Kind Travel Campaign Season 2.
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization announced on the 12th that although it had previously implemented special guarantee systems for the first half of the year, provided hygiene supplies, and promoted the Kind Travel Campaign targeting local tourism businesses, it decided to prepare and implement follow-up measures due to the longer-than-expected COVID-19 situation.
This tourism industry revitalization support project, under the subtitle "Cheer Up Gyeonggi Tourism, Gyeonggi Province Will Be With You," consists of ▲industry-specific support for travel agencies ▲structural improvement of the tourism industry ▲strengthening MICE competitiveness ▲public-private joint promotion Kind Travel Season 2.
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization will first support the travel industry, which has been severely impacted, by subsidizing the four major social insurance premiums and providing early reservation discount support for tourism products selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. A total of 300 travel agencies will be selected and supported with 900 million KRW. During the period designated as a special employment support industry, if the four major social insurance report details and payment receipts are presented, support will be provided up to a maximum of 3 million KRW per company, with a monthly limit of 200,000 KRW per employee for the employer's share of the four major social insurance premiums.
To improve the structural health of the tourism industry, 125 tourism businesses registered under the Tourism Promotion Act will be selected and provided with 375 million KRW for website renewal, employee training, and other purposes.
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization will also provide retroactive payments upon submission of execution evidence after the COVID-19 alert level was raised to ensure prompt support. Support will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, 350 million KRW will be provided to 70 companies in the Gyeonggi MICE Alliance to strengthen industry competitiveness in preparation for the expansion of non-face-to-face and hybrid events and to cover costs for attracting MICE events.
The Gyeonggi MICE Alliance is a consultative body consisting of academic societies, associations, conventions, accommodations, and PCOs (Professional Congress Organizers) registered with Gyeonggi Province (Gyeonggi Tourism Organization) to jointly promote marketing with Gyeonggi Province for the development of the MICE industry.
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization will invest 800 million KRW to further promote the Kind Travel Campaign, which received great response as the first local government to implement a pre-purchase type public-private joint discount promotion.
To respond to the concentration of domestic travel in Jeju Island, Season 2, which previously was limited to tourist attractions in Season 1, will include accommodations and offer a wider range of options, thereby contributing to the activation of stay-type tourism.
Oh Tae-seok, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, explained, "Since February, the number of foreign tourists has been close to zero, and overseas travel demand has not been absorbed by domestic travel, causing increasing damage to the tourism industry. Through meetings with the industry, we have structured the project to provide the most direct benefits to the industry."
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