Tourism Organization Calls for Startups to Participate in Gapyeong and Muju 'BETTER里' Project

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are recruiting startups to participate in the '2025 Battery (BETTER里)' demonstration project until the 31st of this month.

The BETTER里 project aims to provide startups with opportunities to expand into local areas and revitalize the regional economy by increasing the resident population in areas experiencing population decline. This year, 14 startups will be selected through a public contest, and the selected startups will be able to conduct tourism demonstration projects in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and Muju, Jeollabuk-do.

Applications are open not only to companies currently operating tourism-related businesses but also to companies within seven years of establishment that wish to expand into the tourism industry in connection with the respective regions. Selected companies will receive up to 40 million KRW in commercialization support funds and will be provided with administrative support and expert mentoring necessary for business operations. The Korea Tourism Organization plans to support promotional marketing and create opportunities for follow-up investment connections.

Detailed information about the contest can be found on the Korea Tourism Industry Portal 'Touraz.'

Kwon Jong-sul, Director of the Tourism Enterprise Support Office at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "Through the BETTER里 project, we plan to support tourism startups in collaborating with local communities to create new tourism demand and establish sustainable tourism models," adding, "We hope that differentiated tourism businesses that highlight the characteristics of Gapyeong and Muju will be successfully established."

Last year, the BETTER里 project saw participation from 20 tourism startups in Danyang and Jecheon, Chungbuk, and Andong and Bonghwa, Gyeongbuk, demonstrating and selling region-customized tourism products, resulting in approximately 5,000 visitors to those areas.