Up to Three Years of National Funding Support...
Strengthening Capabilities to Host International Conferences
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 2nd that Gunsan, Yeosu, Ulsan, and Wonju have been selected as 'Preliminary International Conference Districts (Preliminary Districts)' to foster the international conference industry based on local regions.
The Preliminary District system was newly established in the "5th Basic Plan for the Development of the International Conference Industry (2024?2028)" to expand the existing metropolitan city-centered 'International Conference Complex Districts' by supporting small and medium-sized cities with the capacity to host international conferences, thereby promoting balanced development of regional international conference hosting capabilities.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a public contest for the selection of Preliminary Districts from February 5 to 25 nationwide targeting local governments, and finalized the Preliminary District candidates through document review, on-site evaluation, project plan presentations by applicant local governments, and a review by the judging committee.
The four regions selected as Preliminary Districts have various integrated facilities linked within the district, centered around medium to large conference facilities, including accommodations, museums and art galleries, performance halls, and large-scale stores, which are expected to enable them to develop into full-fledged International Conference Complex Districts in the future.
The Ministry will provide national funding for up to three years (two years of support, with an additional one year after evaluation) to help Preliminary Districts establish a foundation for revitalizing international conferences. Going forward, Preliminary Districts will systematically improve the international conference infrastructure through promotion and marketing of the districts, development of tourism products, support for international conference participants' convenience (such as improving guidance systems), and operation of public-private consultative bodies within the districts.
Kim Geun-ho, Director of Tourism Industry Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "With the introduction of Preliminary Districts, we will build international conference infrastructure that reflects regional characteristics and provide maximum support so that South Korea can gain even stronger competitiveness in the international conference industry (MICE) market."
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