"Healing Travel Promotion"... Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Unveils 77 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Destinations'

6 Topics, Total of 77 Locations Operated
Vice Minister Jang Miran "Actively Supporting Wellness Tourism Development and Promotion"

The government is fostering 'K-Wellness Tourism,' themed around healing, as a key pillar of inbound tourism.

Daegu Sayuwon
[Photo by Sayuwon Homepage]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization unveiled 77 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites' and a brand image (BI) inspired by the shape of traditional Korean patchwork cloth, Jogakbo, on the 24th. Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran visited 'Sayuwon' in Daegu, newly selected as an 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Site,' in the afternoon to mark the launch of the K-Wellness Tourism brand.

The 77 newly announced 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites' represent K-Wellness Tourism, selected as destinations that heal both body and mind. To allow domestic and international tourists to enjoy a more diverse range of experiences and choices according to their journey, the sites will be operated under six themes: ▲Nature and Forest Healing (25 sites) ▲Beauty and Spa (18 sites) ▲Healing and Meditation (17 sites) ▲Oriental Medicine (7 sites) ▲Stay (7 sites) ▲Food (3 sites).

For the 77 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites,' wellness tourism experts and consulting teams will provide customized consulting for each facility. Through demand surveys for each facility, strategic support will be strengthened in desired areas such as branding, promotion and marketing, and product sales. Service quality of the 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites' will be improved through phased advancement, and representative wellness tourism experience products will be developed.

The K-Wellness Tourism brand image (BI), modeled after traditional Korean Jogakbo patchwork, was also unveiled on the same day. Like the traditional Jogakbo, which is made by stitching together pieces each symbolizing a family's wish for health and fortune, the brand image signifies that Korea's wellness tourism elements harmoniously and beautifully blend to create a unique and differentiated brand value for K-Wellness Tourism.

K-Wellness Tourism Brand Image (BI) modeled after the shape of traditional Korean patchwork, Jogakbo.
[Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran visited 'Sayuwon' in the afternoon to announce the launch of the K-Wellness Tourism brand. Representing the 77 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites,' a plaque featuring the K-Wellness Tourism brand image was also presented to 'Sayuwon.'

Attending the event, along with Sayuwon, were officials from newly selected 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites' including Sobaeksan Ecological Exploration Center in Gyeongbuk, Awon Gotaek in Jeonbuk, Wando Marine Healing Center in Jeonnam, Rainbow Healing Center in Chungbuk, Oak Valley Resort in Gangwon, and Geumpung Brewery in Incheon, celebrating the vigorous leap of K-Wellness Tourism.

Daegu's 'Sayuwon' is a contemplative space derived from the 'Ban-gasa-yu-sang' (Seated Buddha statue), harmonizing 100,000 pyeong of nature, over 30 architectural works, and traditional gardens into a healing and meditation space.

Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran will experience wellness tourism programs such as tea ceremony, meditation, contemplation, and natural healing at this site. Afterwards, she will hold a roundtable with representatives from the 'Excellent Wellness Tourism Sites,' travel industry professionals, and experts to discuss ways to revitalize wellness tourism.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to continue the enactment of the 'Healing Tourism Industry Promotion Act,' proposed last year, while fostering specialized personnel in the wellness tourism industry. It will also actively promote the wellness tourism industry through hosting and participating in related domestic and international expos and aggressive overseas marketing.

Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran stated, "As wellness tourism, centered on health, recovery, and rest, has become a global tourism trend, we will establish wellness tourism as a key pillar of inbound tourism. We will actively support the development and promotion of wellness tourism experience programs that highlight regional characteristics unique to Korea, and systematically nurture wellness tourism."