Aiming to Host the 2026 Council in Mokpo
Accelerating Efforts to Attract Japanese Tourists
Mokpo City in Jeonnam has launched on-site global promotional marketing targeting the Japanese tourism market. Photo by Mokpo City
Mokpo City in Jeonnam is expanding its global tourism promotional marketing and has officially begun efforts to attract Japanese tourists, leveraging its geographical proximity.
From December 15 to 16, the city participated in the "2025 Korea-Japan Tourism Promotion Council" held in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, where it conducted on-site global promotional marketing targeting the Japanese tourism market.
The council is an international conference organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, with more than 150 participants including the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), travel associations from both countries, and representatives from the tourism and aviation industries. Since 1986, the event has been held annually, alternating between Korea and Japan, to discuss the expansion of tourism exchanges and practical cooperation.
This year, marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization, the main agenda items included: ▲ continuous expansion of tourism exchanges ▲ revitalization of regional tourism ▲ promotion of exchanges among future generations ▲ diversification of the tourism industry ▲ cooperation to attract long-distance tourists. The meeting featured presentations on tourism policies from both governments and in-depth discussions on ways to further expand exchanges.
Mokpo City participated as the only local government representing Korea, alongside the host, Shiga Prefecture, and focused on introducing strategies to attract tourists by leveraging its comparative advantages in tourism resources. The city highlighted its geographical advantage of easy access to international airports, as well as tourism resources with historical ties to Japan, such as modern cultural heritage sites.
Additionally, as the host city of this year's International Namdo Gastronomy Industry Expo, Mokpo promoted its brand as the "City of Taste," emphasizing its competitiveness in gastronomic tourism and attracting significant interest from participants.
A city official stated, "Through various themed exchanges such as modern history tourism, sightseeing, and gastronomic tourism, which are favored by Japanese tourists, we will strategically expand 'K-Tourism Mokpo.' We will also do our utmost to bring the '2026 Korea-Japan Tourism Promotion Council,' to be held in Korea next December, to Mokpo, so that the city can become a hub for expanding Korea-Japan tourism exchanges."
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