Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Selects 19 New 'Touring Dure' Areas Including Muan and Changwon

Last year, a business briefing session was held in Jangseong-gun regarding the recruitment of resident enterprises for 'Gwangwangdure'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 17th that it has selected 19 new regions and 19 Tourism Dure PDs for the '2022 Tourism Dure' program.

Started in 2013, 'Tourism Dure' is a regional tourism policy project that supports Tourism Dure PDs in helping local residents establish resident enterprises with unique local characteristics based on community cooperation. Up to 2021, 109 regions have been selected as 'Tourism Dure' project areas. Based on local tourism content, a total of 822 resident enterprises in five sectors?accommodation, food and beverage, souvenirs, travel agencies, and experiences?have been discovered and nurtured, contributing to the revitalization of local tourism.

The newly selected Tourism Dure project regions are ▲Jin-gu, Busan ▲Dong-gu and Michuhol-gu, Incheon ▲Buk-gu and Seo-gu, Gwangju ▲Nam-gu, Ulsan ▲Bucheon and Namyangju, Gyeonggi ▲Yeongwol, Gangwon ▲Chungju, Chungbuk ▲Boryeong and Geumsan, Chungnam ▲Jeonju and Wanju, Jeonbuk ▲Muan and Yeongam, Jeonnam ▲Seongju and Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk ▲Changwon, Gyeongnam. This year, major metropolitan cities representing regions such as Busan, Incheon, Gwangju, and Ulsan accounted for 31.5%. The Tourism Dure project, which had been active mainly in small and medium-sized areas such as counties and cities, has gradually expanded to major cities in the provinces.

The Tourism Dure PDs selected from each region will receive capacity-building training and activity expenses as facilitators connecting local governments and residents, visitors and residents, and residents with each other. The activity period for Tourism Dure PDs is up to five years.

Going forward, Tourism Dure PDs will discover local resident communities and support them in successfully establishing and operating tourism enterprises. Customized support such as startup consulting, business management training, and product market development will be provided to resident enterprises to help them grow sustainably in their regions.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, "The Tourism Dure project is a policy initiative where local residents and regional tourism grow together," adding, "We plan to continuously expand and support the Tourism Dure project to revitalize local tourism, which has been stagnant due to COVID-19."