Professor Kim Geun-jong of Konyang University and Tourism Association Call for Establishment of Tourism Agency

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The necessity of establishing a Tourism Agency is being emphasized, especially among academic societies in the tourism sector. This is due to the need for an administrative central institution that can lead inter-ministerial consultations and coordination to revitalize the domestic tourism industry.

The Korea Hotel, Food Service and Tourism Management Association and the Republic of Korea Tourism Agency Establishment Promotion Committee announced on the 2nd that they will hold the "Republic of Korea Tourism Agency Establishment Promotion Forum" on the 7th from 2 PM to 4 PM with this purpose.

The forum will be held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and online via ZOOM video conference, with an expected attendance of 380 members from the Republic of Korea Tourism Agency Establishment Promotion Committee and 1,000 members from the Korea Hotel, Food Service and Tourism Management Association.

Hosted by the Republic of Korea Tourism Agency Establishment Promotion Committee and the Korea Hotel, Food Service and Tourism Management Association, and sponsored by Shinshin Hotel Group, the forum will proceed with a welcome speech by National Assembly member Lee Sang-min (Democratic Party), congratulatory remarks by National Assembly member Do Jong-hwan (Democratic Party, Chairman of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee), and Chungnam Province Governor Yang Seung-jo, followed by discussions.

The presentation will be delivered by Professor Kim Geun-jong of Konyang University’s Department of Global Hotel and Tourism (Chairman of the Tourism Agency Establishment Promotion Committee). The discussion, themed "The Path to Becoming a Tourism Powerhouse through the Establishment of a Tourism Agency," will feature exchanges of opinions among Professor Kim Hyuk-soo of Cheongju University, Professor Choi Jeong-gil of Kyung Hee University, Professor Jeon Myeong-suk of Konyang University, and Chairman Kim Un-jang of Shinshin Hotel Group. Professor Jeong Jong-hoon of Catholic Kwandong University (President of the Korea Hotel, Food Service and Tourism Management Association) will moderate the discussion.

Professor Kim Geun-jong of Konyang University stated, “The diversification of tourism businesses and the expansion of the global tourism market highlight the necessity of establishing an administrative control tower (Tourism Agency) to support the tourism industry,” adding, “Currently, an integrated shift in thinking is required to foster the tourism industry as a national strategic industry through the establishment of a Tourism Agency.”

He further argued, “Japan already established a Tourism Agency in 2008 and, based on that, ranked 4th in tourism competitiveness evaluation in the Asia-Pacific region in 2019, whereas South Korea ranked only 16th in the same evaluation, showing a poor performance. Therefore, the establishment of a Tourism Agency is absolutely necessary for South Korea to enhance the competitiveness of its tourism industry in the future.”