Ulsan City Hosts 2025 TPO Korea Regional Meeting

April 17-18: Over 60 Participants from 21 Domestic Member Cities and Institutions
Discussions on Revitalizing Regional Tourism and On-site Visit to Taehwagang National Garden

Ulsan City announced that the '2025 Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) Korea Regional Meeting' was held at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center from April 17 to 18, 2025.

The Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) is an international organization established in August 2002 with the aim of promoting tourism exchange and industrial development among major cities around the world.

As of 2025, local governments and institutions from 130 cities in 17 countries are active members. Ulsan City has participated as a member city of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO) since 2003.

The meeting was attended by around 60 participants, including representatives from 14 domestic member cities of TPO, 7 related organizations, and the TPO Secretariat.

On the first day, April 17, the opening ceremony was held at 2:00 p.m., followed by special lectures: Kyeong-Eun Choi, Director of Tourism Policy Research at the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, presented '2025 Global Tourism Trends'; Jae-Woo Lee, CEO of HanaTour ITC, gave a talk on 'Understanding Platforms and Revitalizing Regional Inbound Tourism'; and Hyunjin Lee, CEO of MICE Link, spoke on 'The Exhibition Convergence Industry (MICE) and Regional Tourism.'

Subsequently, under the theme '2025 Global Tourism Trends, the Exhibition Convergence Industry (MICE), and Regional Tourism,' participants discussed the main activities of TPO in 2024 and explored ways to enhance cooperation among member cities.

On the second day, April 18, participants visited major tourist attractions in Ulsan, including the Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant and the Taehwagang National Garden.

A city official stated, "In 2024, the number of tourists visiting Ulsan reached 10 million, solidifying Ulsan's status as a leading tourist city. We will continue to widely promote Ulsan's outstanding tourism resources through ongoing exchanges with TPO member cities, and further strengthen our city's competitiveness with Ulsan's unique strategy that integrates industry, ecology, culture, and tourism."

Recently, the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center (UECO) area was selected for the '2025 Preliminary International Conference District Activation Support Project' organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Over the next three years, Ulsan City plans to promote the international conference district (KTX Ulsan Station?Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center?Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Center?Ulsan Petroglyph Museum), develop tourism products, and provide transportation convenience for participants, with the aim of attracting more international conferences.