Deferment of Registration License Tax Payments
Operation of Tourism Revitalization Programs
Gwangju Nam-gu (District Chief Kim Byungnae) is taking measures to help travel agencies struggling with management difficulties due to a series of setbacks such as the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster and rising exchange rates, by considering a temporary deferment of registration license tax payments.
According to Nam-gu on the 23rd, the district held a meeting with 16 local travel agency representatives in the district office's 6th-floor conference room on the afternoon of the 22nd, to listen to the industry's concerns and discuss possible support measures.
Despite the peak travel season ahead of the winter vacation and Lunar New Year holidays, the travel industry is facing a major downturn due to overlapping negative factors such as anxiety following the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster, the closure of Muan Airport, and a sharp increase in exchange rates.
The participants proposed measures including exemption or deferment of the registration license tax, operation of healing tour programs in collaboration with travel agencies, additional support for the Win-Win Card budget, declaration of Gwangju as a disaster area, and support for rent and labor costs.
Nam-gu will first review support measures that can be implemented at the district office level in order to swiftly reflect the voices of the travel industry.
They plan to pursue a deferment of the annual registration license tax collection.
In addition, they are closely reviewing the operation of tourism revitalization programs to boost the stagnant domestic tourism market. As a budget is needed for these programs, they plan to secure additional revised funding to implement them.
Separately from the proposals, the district also plans to send official documents to local elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as various self-governing and social organizations, requesting them to use local businesses when organizing school trips, retreats, outings, and group events.
Other proposals, such as additional support for the Win-Win Card, rent and labor cost support, and the declaration of a disaster area, will be discussed with other autonomous districts in Gwangju and then recommended to the Gwangju city government for support.
A Nam-gu official stated, "It is very heartbreaking to face such a great ordeal again after barely overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic," and added, "We will prepare measures at the district office level to help the travel industry overcome this crisis."
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