Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Join Forces in Tourism and Shipping to Boost Local Economic Vitality

Promotion of Cruise Tourism and Related Projects such as Development of Korea Dullegil Trail

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 15th that they will actively promote inter-ministerial collaborative projects through strategic personnel exchanges.

The two ministries designated the Director of Domestic Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, responsible for domestic tourism promotion, and the Director of Marine Leisure Tourism at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, responsible for marine tourism promotion, as targets for strategic personnel exchange to break down barriers between ministries and foster communication and cooperation in the marine tourism sector.

Subsequently, at the first inter-ministerial collaboration project review meeting on the 15th, three collaborative projects were selected: ▲ Expanding the attraction of domestic and international tourists to regions through revitalizing cruise tourism ▲ Establishing key bases for the Korea Dullegil trail linked with fishing village experience and leisure villages to promote domestic walking tours ▲ Preparing mid- to long-term strategies and promoting linked projects for the creation of a southern coastal marine leisure tourism belt in connection with the southern region’s wide-area tourism development.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will eliminate barriers between ministries related to cruises and jointly compete to attract international cruises. Focusing on the five major domestic ports of call (Jeju, Busan, Incheon, Yeosu, Sokcho), they plan to extend the stay time of cruise tourists and revitalize surrounding regional tourism. The goal is to increase the number of cruise tourists from 274,000 last year to 500,000 this year and 800,000 by 2025. Starting this year, they will jointly plan and promote port of call promotional events (port sales) overseas. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will enhance the attractiveness of ports of call with uniquely Korean tourism products such as local festivals, traditional markets, and templestays, while the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will improve cruise port infrastructure and systems.

Additionally, they will jointly promote projects that invigorate the local economy of fishing villages facing population extinction risks through tourism. They will actively promote to travelers during walking tour weeks by linking 31 rest stops on the uninterrupted Korea Dullegil trail around the outskirts of Korea with fishing village experience and leisure villages, and conduct nationwide campaigns including discounts linked to experience and accommodation facilities. Through this, they plan to solidify domestic travel content for Korean citizens and revitalize the fishing village tourism economy.

The ministries will also link the ‘Southern Region Wide-area Tourism Development Plan’ led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the ‘Southern Coastal Marine Leisure Tourism Belt Creation’ project led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to more efficiently activate tourism along the southern coast. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will review linkage plans with local governments through ongoing research on ‘Southern Coastal Marine Leisure Tourism Activation Measures’ in connection with the ‘Southern Region Wide-area Tourism Development Plan’ project, while the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also consider deregulation and system improvements to enhance the efficiency of the ‘Southern Region Wide-area Tourism Development Plan’.

Starting with this strategic personnel exchange, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plan to further strengthen cooperation to function as a ‘One Team Government working for the people,’ in line with the national governance philosophy.