Korea SMEs and Startups Agency Visits Gangwon Yeongdong Tourism Industry Sites for Crisis Recovery
Seeking Ways to Strengthen Field-Oriented Support Considering Regional Industry Characteristics
On July 30, the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency announced that it visited Gyeongpo Aquarium, located in Gangneung City, to share exemplary cases of overcoming business difficulties after COVID-19 and to explore future support measures.
Gyeongpo Aquarium, which opened in December 2015, is the largest aquarium in the Gangwon region. By operating outdoor experience facilities, it has led the tourism industry in the Yeongdong area of Gangwon. However, during COVID-19, the number of visitors sharply declined due to restrictions on admission as part of quarantine measures, which resulted in a decrease in revenue and caused management difficulties.
To overcome these challenges, Gyeongpo Aquarium utilized policy funds and business transformation support from the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency to develop its own technologies, such as a smart Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), thereby achieving a recovery in sales and establishing a stable foundation for growth.
At the site, it was pointed out that the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency played a significant role in overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. It was also suggested that continued policy support from the agency is necessary to help small and medium-sized enterprises expand their businesses and strengthen their competitiveness after overcoming such crises.
Chairman Kang Seokjin stated, "Gyeongpo Aquarium, which took a leap forward through technology development and business transformation even during the COVID-19 crisis, is an excellent example of the resilience and innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. We will continue to strengthen field-oriented policy support to actively assist SMEs in overcoming crises and achieving sustainable growth."
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