The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that, together with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), it will hold the '2025 Korea Tourism Development Cooperation Project (KOPIST) High-Level Tourism Policy Forum' in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do on June 16.
KOPIST is a flagship official development assistance (ODA) project launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2014 to contribute to the development of the tourism industry in developing countries. Over the years, it has shared Korea’s tourism development policy experience with tourism leaders from key partner countries on a variety of pressing issues.
This year, the forum will be held under the theme of 'Community Development through Ecotourism,' with high-ranking officials from the tourism ministries of 11 countries in attendance, including Ghana's Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and Tanzania's Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Nkoba Erieza Mbora.
First, Professor Kelly Bricker of Arizona State University will deliver the keynote speech, highlighting the importance of ecotourism centered on local communities. She is expected to emphasize the need to shift toward tourism models that create sustainable economies and communities based on natural environments and cultural heritage in the era of the climate crisis.
The first session will address changes in tourism practices in response to climate change. Borathai Ueisarn, Senior Sustainability Manager at Agoda, a leading global online travel agency (OTA), will introduce corporate efforts to meet the demands of environmentally conscious and sustainability-minded travelers. Professor Cora Wong of Macao Polytechnic University will present best practices for climate change adaptation and response at tourism destinations.
The second session will share strategies for community cooperation in developing ecotourism in Korea and explore ways to promote low-carbon travel. Ko Jeryang, President of the Korea Ecotourism Association, will present the current status of community-centered ecotourism development in Jeju. Lee Dongwon, CEO of Activebooky, a reservation and payment platform for rural tourism activities, will share cases of revitalizing regions at risk of depopulation through digital technology. Participants from the 11 countries will then join group discussions to exchange policy cases and insights from their respective countries.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also conduct a 'working-level tourism policy training program' for tourism leaders from June 18 to July 9 in Seoul, Okcheon, Hwasun, and Changnyeong.
A policy official from the Ministry stated, "At this turning point for climate crisis and tourism recovery, it is essential to shift tourism policy toward revitalizing local areas and strengthening community resilience," adding, "The Ministry will continue its efforts to help developing countries establish sustainable tourism ecosystems."
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