Tourism Organization Collaborates with Korea National Park Service for Safe National Park Exploration

Song Hyung-geun, Chairman of the Korea National Park Service, and Ahn Young-bae, President of the Korea Tourism Organization (right).

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 13th that it signed a "Business Agreement for the Activation of National Park Tourism and Safe Exploration" with the Korea National Park Service at the organization's Wonju office.

The purpose of this business agreement is to create a safe national park exploration environment and to activate national park exploration travel through linkage with nearby tourist attractions, thereby contributing to job creation and revitalization of the local economy.

The Tourism Organization will develop tourism courses and products by linking national parks with nearby tourist sites and will promote and attract promising markets such as domestic and international trekking club members. Additionally, national park content will be used as promotional material for domestic and international tourism, and translation and proofreading support for tourist information signage within national parks will be provided. The Park Service will newly train safety hiking guides capable of foreign languages (English, Japanese, Chinese) for foreign visitors. Furthermore, they will enhance the safety hiking guide operation system and carry out various support activities for the development of walking travel products.

Both organizations agreed to conduct a safe travel campaign targeting visitors to national parks during the vacation season to prevent COVID-19 infection, including screening safe travel promotional materials and distributing guidebooks.

Ang Young-bae, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, said, "National parks are increasingly attracting not only middle-aged and older generations who enjoy walking trips to escape the city and enjoy nature due to COVID-19, but also the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z)." He added, "We will continue to cooperate with the Park Service so that domestic and international tourists can enjoy walking trips with nature in a safer environment."