Paju City Launches Full-Scale Strategy for a 'Barrier-Free Tourism City for All'

Launch of the Barrier-Free Tourism Promotion Council
Unveiling of the Integrated Brand Image (BI)

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province held a commissioning ceremony on the 18th at the Unjeong Happiness Center for the members who will lead the Paju City Barrier-Free Tourism Promotion Council, officially launching its comprehensive barrier-free tourism strategy.

Paju City held a commissioning ceremony on the 18th at the Unjeong Happiness Center for the members who will lead the Paju City Barrier-Free Tourism Promotion Council. Photo by Paju City

The Paju City Barrier-Free Tourism Promotion Council is a public-private consultative body established to implement the Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project, which was selected in February for a contest hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization. The council consists of 22 members, including representatives from the tourism sector, welfare organizations, disability groups, and local experts. The term of the council members runs until December 2027.

Starting with the commissioning ceremony, the council plans to gather diverse opinions and build cooperative systems to create a barrier-free tourism city. It will also carry out promotional activities to improve public awareness and encourage citizen participation in barrier-free tourism.

During the ceremony, the city shared its three-year phased implementation plan for its ongoing barrier-free tourism policies. The city will proceed with initiatives in stages: ▲ establishing a foundation for improving barrier-free tourism transportation in the first year; ▲ improving private facilities around tourist attractions and establishing information centers in the second year; and ▲ providing barrier-free tourism information and integrated services in the third year.

Vice Mayor Choi Byeonggap stated, "To create an inclusive tourism city where everyone can travel without inconvenience, it is essential to listen to the voices of those directly affected and to make efforts that take users into consideration." He added, "I ask the council to play a central role by making proactive suggestions and participating actively to ensure the effective implementation of these policies."

Meanwhile, at the event, Paju City's official barrier-free tourism brand and integrated brand image (BI) were officially unveiled. The city plans to use the official brand and integrated brand image (BI) to raise awareness of its barrier-free tourism policies and to develop it as a representative tourism brand for Paju City.