Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Selects Target Sites for Regional Specialized Tourism Projects in Four Areas

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 27th that it has selected regional specialized tourism contents in four areas in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization: ▲Ecological Green Tourism ▲Industrial Tourism ▲Leisure Sports Tourism ▲Activation of Walking Travel Routes.

The Ministry and the Tourism Organization are promoting the ‘Regional Specialized Tourism Contents’ project to develop various tourism products that allow domestic and international tourists to directly experience the unique tourism resources of each region and to revitalize the local economy. Selected destinations through the public contest will receive support for tourism content development, program operation consultation, and promotion and marketing.

In the era of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), ecological green tourism, which offers rest and healing, was selected in two categories: the ‘Ecological Theme Tourism Resource Development’ project and the ‘Aging Tourism Facility Regeneration’ project.

For the Ecological Theme Tourism Resource Development project, 10 locations were selected, including ▲‘Hoedong Reservoir Picnic Travel’ in Geumjeong-gu, Busan, and ▲‘Come Play on Holidays (N) (遊)’ in Seocheon, Chungnam. This project provides various experiential programs and guided tours that combine the region’s unique ecological resources with historical, cultural, and humanities stories, allowing tourists to slowly and deeply experience nature and enjoy rest and small pleasures amid their busy daily lives.

For the Aging Tourism Facility Regeneration project, 5 locations were selected, including ▲‘A Dream Path of Five Colors by the Lake’ in Hoengseong, Gangwon, and ▲‘Starlight Ecological Humanities Festival at Jinhae Gyeonghwa Station’ in Changwon, Gyeongnam. This project aims to revitalize the declining tourism functions by improving aging facilities and providing programs integrated with cultural content, thereby contributing to the activation of local tourism.

Industrial tourism is a project that links regional specialized industries, enterprises, and industrial facilities with local tourism resources to provide visitors with distinctive experiential tourism contents and programs. Selected projects include ▲‘Modern Industrial Cultural Heritage Coal Mine Culture Travel’ centered on Samtan Art Mine in Jeongseon, Gangwon, and ▲‘Healing Travel with Eco-friendly Organic Industry’ centered on Natural Dream Park in Goesan, Chungbuk.

Leisure sports tourism is a project that utilizes various leisure sports available in the region as tourism resources to provide tourists with leisure sports-related experiential programs, fostering them as representative tourism brands of the region. Selected locations include ▲‘A Mysterious Underwater Walk through the Marine Park’ in Gangneung, Gangwon, ▲‘Tourism Leisure Sports Experience in Sky, Land, and Water’ in Buyeo, Chungnam, and ▲‘Thrilling Full-body Experience! Enjoy Mountain Biking and Camping in One Place!’ in Wonju, Gangwon.

The activation of walking travel routes is a project that fosters attractive walking travel routes and representative tourism resources of the region into a single-themed regional specialized tourism product. Selected locations include ▲‘Discovery of Preferences: Haepalanggil Walking Flex’ in Dong-gu, Ulsan, ▲‘Shall We Walk Together Everywhere, YOU! Seosan’ in Seosan, Chungnam, and ▲‘Let’s Go Together: Goseong Marine Healing Trail’ in Goseong, Gyeongnam.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is promoting the ‘Integrated Support Project for Regional Tourism Service Innovation’ to provide tourists with seamless access to all elements of tourism?from arrival at local airports, transportation, sightseeing, food, and entertainment to accommodation and shopping?according to their travel routes. In addition to the tourism resources selected through this contest, Daegu and Jeonnam, which were selected as target areas for the ‘Integrated Support Project for Regional Tourism Service Innovation,’ will also receive additional support for regional specialized tourism contents to expand their attractions.

Choi Bogeun, Director of Tourism Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, “This is a time when all citizens must unite to focus on COVID-19 prevention, so we cannot fully enjoy travel. However, we will nurture the regional specialized tourism contents project to successfully establish itself by the time travel fully resumes after overcoming COVID-19, contributing to the revitalization of regional tourism and the domestic economy.”