Fostering Community-Led 'Tourism Promotion Organizations'... Seeking Solutions to Local Issues
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 6th that it has selected and will support 19 Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) that establish regional public-private cooperation systems and manage proactive regional tourism in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization.
The Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization selected a total of 19 DMOs, including 4 organizations chosen through this year's public contest and 5 tourism hub city-type organizations recommended by local governments (Busan, Gangneung, Mokpo, Andong, Jeonju). The 14 organizations selected through the contest consist of 11 new or second-year organizations and 3 organizations that have received support up to the second year and will receive follow-up support for the third year after this year's evaluation.
The 11 new or second-year organizations receiving support this year are ▲ Donghae City, Gangwon Province (Donghae Culture and Tourism Foundation) ▲ Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province (Pyeongchang County Tourism Council) ▲ Yeongdong County, Chungbuk Province (Yeongdong Festival Tourism Foundation) ▲ Gongju City, Chungnam Province (Gongju City Tourism Council) ▲ Geumsan County, Chungnam Province (Geumsan Festival Tourism Foundation) ▲ Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province (Jinju Culture and Tourism Foundation) ▲ Tongyeong City, Gyeongnam Province (Tongyeong Hansan Battle Culture Foundation) ▲ Namhae County, Gyeongnam Province (Namhae County Tourism Culture Foundation) ▲ Gwangyang City, Jeonnam Province (Gwangyang City Tourism Council) ▲ Sinan County, Jeonnam Province (Sinan County Tourism Council) ▲ Haenam County, Jeonnam Province (Haenam Culture and Tourism Foundation).
The 3 organizations receiving follow-up support are ▲ Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province (Goyang City Tourism Convention Council) ▲ Hongseong County, Chungnam Province (Happy Travel Sharing Co., Ltd.) ▲ Gochang County, Jeonbuk Province (Gochang Culture and Tourism Foundation).
The Namhae County Tourism Culture Foundation in Gyeongnam (second-year) was highly evaluated for promoting tourism at customer touchpoints such as contactless travel and carbon-neutral travel by utilizing major representative tourist sites like ‘Namhaegak’ and unique MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) venues capable of hosting international conferences. Happy Travel Sharing in Hongseong, Chungnam (third-year) was recognized for establishing a public-private cooperation system centered on a local resident council, fostering regional experience experts, and promoting a safe camping and car camping culture.
The 19 DMOs will receive up to 250 million KRW in funding, along with support for project planning, expert consultation, and promotion and marketing activities to enhance their self-sufficiency. In particular, this year, as a mandatory project, support will be provided to discover and implement new projects linked to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management tailored to regional circumstances.
A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, “As the number of regions with declining populations increases, the growth and role of DMOs in revitalizing tourism are becoming more important. We hope that the selected DMOs will contribute to activating regional tourism and solving local issues.”
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