Gyeonggi Tourism Organization Provides 1.9 Billion Won 'Emergency Support' to Tourism Businesses

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has provided a total of 1.917 billion KRW in support to local tourism businesses and charter bus transportation operators facing difficulties due to COVID-19.

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization announced the Tourism Business Operator Support Project to tourism businesses in the province via phone calls and text messages from February 16 to March 11. Among 2,456 tourism businesses, 2,388 were confirmed as recipients (580,000 KRW per business), and among 5,895 charter bus vehicles, 5,327 were confirmed as recipients (100,000 KRW per vehicle). The support funds were recently disbursed, the organization announced on the 3rd.

The Tourism Organization moved away from the previous method of selecting recipients based on changes in sales revenue and office rental status, minimizing exclusions such as public institutions and subsidiaries of mid-sized and large corporations, thereby confirming almost all tourism businesses as eligible for support.

Additionally, the application requirements were simplified to reduce the documents submitted by applying businesses.

Choi Yong-hoon, Director of the Tourism Division of the province, stated, "Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, major tourism sectors such as travel agencies and international conference businesses are struggling. Charter bus operators who also run travel agencies are facing double hardships with ongoing insurance costs and recent sharp increases in fuel prices amid the absence of school trips and group tours. We hope this support will provide some help to the tourism industry in the province, which is in a serious crisis."