Financial Support for Group Tourists
Bus Rental Subsidies and Other Incentives
The Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation is making every effort to support the recovery and revitalize tourism in five cities and counties in Gyeongbuk?Andong, Uiseong, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, and Cheongsong?that have suffered unprecedented damage from large-scale wildfires.
On May 10, President Namil Kim and employees of the corporation visited the “Yeongyang Wild Vegetable Food Festival” held in the Yeongyang County Office area, where they communicated directly with residents affected by the wildfire.
Namil Kim, president of the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation (left), is visiting the wild vegetable sales area in Yeongyang County affected by the wildfire to meet with local residents.
Reflecting the reality of the wildfire damage, a “Wildfire Theme Hall” was set up instead of a grand performance stage. After touring the theme hall, they visited the wild vegetable market operated by local residents, shared in their pain, and pledged to take the lead in reviving the local tourism economy by attracting visitors.
The Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation has planned a large-scale tourism recovery campaign, “Re:tour, Now to Gyeongbuk,” focusing on areas affected by the wildfires, and is currently implementing various projects.
The “Gyeongbuk Hometown On Bus” project, which provides a bus rental subsidy of 1 million won per bus for hometown associations visiting the wildfire-affected areas, is receiving a great response.
The corporation has also begun promoting the “Bus Tour to Gyeongbuk” project in cooperation with the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government. Applications will be accepted starting May 16. The support is available to groups of 30 or more people traveling to wildfire-affected areas in May or June, and institutions, organizations, and travel agencies can all participate. The subsidy amounts are 600,000 won for groups from Daegu and Gyeongbuk, 800,000 won for those from the Seoul metropolitan area, and 700,000 won for other regions.
In collaboration with ten domestic travel agencies dedicated to Gyeongbuk, the corporation has also launched a new product called “Good Travel Blossoming Through Donations in Gyeongbuk,” which combines travel with charitable giving. When participants join a special program that visits at least two cities or counties among the wildfire-affected areas for a one-night, two-day trip, a donation of 10,000 won per person is automatically made.
The “Gyeongbuk Voluntour” project, jointly promoted by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government, the corporation, and the Gyeongbuk Comprehensive Volunteer Center, drew significant attention, with about 300 people nationwide applying as soon as recruitment began in early May, causing registration to close within a week.
“Voluntour,” a compound word of “volunteer” and “tour,” is a public-interest travel program in which participants engage in volunteer activities in wildfire-affected areas and explore tourist attractions over a one-night, two-day period.
Employees of the Chungnam Volunteer Center are hosting a village feast with the elderly at the village hall in Jinbo-myeon, Cheongsong-gun, Gyeongbuk, which was affected by the wildfire.
Starting at the end of May, the corporation will launch a lodging promotion in partnership with the online travel platform “YeoGiEottae.” Guests booking accommodations in wildfire-affected areas can receive discounts of up to 30,000 won.
President Namil Kim stated, “Every visit to the wildfire-affected areas brings healing and hope to local residents, and tourism itself becomes an act of giving. I hope this campaign will grow into a major movement of 'good tourism' that helps the affected regions through travel.”
President Kim added, “Alongside the ‘Re:tour, Now to Gyeongbuk’ campaign, we plan to continue various follow-up support measures, including developing tourism content for wildfire-affected areas and expanding regionally connected travel products.”
Meanwhile, last month the corporation demonstrated its sense of community responsibility and sincere solidarity by delivering a donation of 20 million won to Gyeongbuk Province to help wildfire victims, with the warm participation of its employees.
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