Joint Promotion by Ministry of Culture and Korea Tourism Organization Boosts Tourist Attraction
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] On the 22nd, Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam announced that ‘Geochang Hangnohwa Healing Land’ was the only site in Gyeongnam selected as a ‘2022 Wellness Tourism Destination’ jointly promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization.
Wellness tourism destinations are designated as tourist sites or facilities that provide programs and services centered on four themes: oriental medicine, healing and meditation, beauty and spa, and nature and forest therapy, which help promote mental and physical health.
The final selection was made through a first round of document evaluation and a second round of on-site evaluation based on criteria such as content appropriateness, efforts to attract tourists, and future development potential.
Geochang Hangnohwa Healing Land was selected in the nature and forest therapy category, where visitors can maintain health in nature and find stability through mind training, and will receive support for ▲improving conditions for foreign visitors ▲producing foreign language promotional materials ▲overseas promotion ▲tourism commercialization, among others.
Kim Tae-hee, Acting Governor of Geochang-gun, said, “This facility, located on the foothills of Udusan at an altitude of 1,046 meters, was created with the theme of healing and therapy utilizing the pristine forest environment,” adding, “As tourism trends shift toward wellness, we will make Geochang Hangnohwa Healing Land a representative wellness tourism destination nationwide.”
Following the selection of the natural cosmetics company Haneul Hosu in the oriental medicine field as a wellness tourism destination in 2017, Geochang Hangnohwa Healing Land is the second site in Geochang to be selected.
Among the six wellness tourism destinations in Gyeongnam, two are located in Geochang, giving a further boost to the activation of wellness tourism.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have been selecting and supporting wellness tourism destinations annually since 2017 as demand for healing and health travel increases. This year, nine new sites were selected nationwide, bringing the total number of domestic wellness tourism destinations to 59.
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