Joining Forces to Boost 'Wellness Tourism'... Gyeongbuk Conducts Training for Healing and Wellness Workers

50 Participants in 8 Fields Including Meditation, Yoga, Forest, Marine, and Agricultural Healing

The 'Gyeongbuk Wellness Tourism Managership Training' was conducted over a 2-day, 1-night course at Yeongju National Forest Healing Center on the 12th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Gyeongbuk Province is focusing on fostering wellness tourism in response to increased interest in healing, safe travel, and rising travel demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since early this year, five locations certified as wellness tourism hub facilities by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have been actively improving accommodation readiness and developing experience programs.

The province has recruited wellness managers from healing and wellness workers active in the region to unite efforts for the leap forward of wellness tourism in Gyeongbuk.

For the professional managers recruited this time, the province conducted the ‘Gyeongbuk Wellness Tourism Managership Training’ on the 12th, a 2-day, 1-night course held at Yeongju National Forest Healing Center.

About 50 experts currently engaged in wellness-related activities such as meditation, yoga, forest, marine, and agricultural healing in Gyeongbuk, or holding related qualifications and registered in the Gyeongbuk Wellness Tourism Professional Pool, attended this training.

The trainees included professors of healing and wellness-related departments, workers operating healing farms and healing cafes, as well as various wellness experts such as early childhood forest instructors, forest interpreters, scuba diving masters, and psychological counselors.

During the training, managers learned the current status of Gyeongbuk wellness tourism, concepts and trends of wellness tourism, program case studies, basic wellness knowledge, customer service education applicable in the field, and recreation guidance skills.

The province plans to award the ‘Gyeongbuk Wellness Tourism Manager’ certificate to those who completed the training to instill pride and encourage participation in Gyeongbuk wellness tourism.

When programs are operated at Gyeongbuk wellness tourism hub facilities, managers will be matched upon request and various content will be provided.

Additionally, managers will participate in the ‘Cham! Gyeongbuk Wellness Tourism Festival’ held from October 7 to 10.

The province is proactively responding to the activation of wellness tourism included in the 110 major tasks of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and will hold the first wellness tourism-themed festival among local governments nationwide to promote Gyeongbuk as a wellness tourism hub externally.

The managers participating in this training will take a leading role in the festival by engaging in wellness permanent experiences, operating flea markets, running wellness programs, and promoting the festival.

A Gyeongbuk official said, “The festival held in October in the wellness city of Yeongju will be filled with various programs to fully enjoy healing and wellness,” adding, “We ask for much interest and promotion, and see you in Yeongju in October.”

Kim Sang-cheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, emphasized, “Wellness is currently expanding beyond simple tourism into an industry, and Gyeongbuk plans to create a tourism industry ecosystem at its center. This training is a model case of cultural tourism created together with residents, as wellness-related workers in the region voluntarily contribute to the leap forward of Gyeongbuk wellness tourism.”