"Half-Price Travel Expenses"...Tourism Council and Park Jiwon Join Forces for Vacation Support Program Success

National Assembly Responds to Urgent Local Voices...
A Model of Private-Public-Political Collaboration

10 Billion Won Invested, 50% of Travel Expenses Reimbursed in Local Currency to Revitalize Neighborhood Businesses

Haenam-gun and Wando-gun in South Jeolla Province, both struggling with the double hardship of a population extinction crisis and sluggish domestic demand, have been finally selected for the "2026 Local Love Vacation Support Program" competition led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This marks a groundbreaking step forward for local tourism in the region.

This achievement is drawing particular attention as it stands as a model case of collaboration between the private sector, local government, and political leadership. The accomplishment was made possible by proactive proposals from local organizations reflecting the urgent crisis on the ground, as well as the all-out efforts of the local district's National Assembly member to secure national funding.

Officials from the Wando Tourism Association requested the government to prepare support measures during a policy meeting with Representative Park Jiwon last year. Provided by Wando Tourism Association

According to the Wando Tourism Council on February 28, the seeds for this successful selection were sown at a policy meeting on December 28 last year between members of the Council and Park Ji-won, Democratic Party lawmaker representing Haenam, Wando, and Jindo.

The Wando Tourism Council, which acts as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism-designated regional tourism governance body comprised of local tourism industry workers, conveyed the sense of crisis in neighborhood businesses due to the sharp decline in tourists during the meeting and requested concrete government-level support measures.

After listening to the voices from the field, Assemblyman Park Ji-won promised an immediate response. Subsequently, several rounds of close consultations were held not only with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other central government agencies but also with working-level officials of each local government, persuading them of the necessity and budgetary feasibility of the project. Ultimately, both regions achieved the milestone of being selected for the program together.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "Local Love Vacation Support Program," introduced for the first time this year, is an unprecedented stay-type tourism support policy aimed at revitalizing tourism in areas with declining populations and simultaneously helping to restore the local economy. The core of the program is to reimburse 50% of travel expenses-such as accommodation, food, and transportation-spent by tourists visiting these regions, in the form of local gift certificates.

Looking at the specifics, a total budget of 1 billion won will be allocated to each local government for this vacation support program, including 300 million won in national funding. The main benefit is the immediate reimbursement of 50% of travel expenses (accommodation, dining, transportation) spent in the region with local currency.

For individual travelers, the maximum reimbursement is 100,000 won, and for groups or families of two or more, the ceiling is 200,000 won. This system is expected to significantly reduce the cost burden for tourists while enabling local governments to establish a virtuous economic cycle, as the issued local currency will be spent again in neighborhood businesses and traditional markets.

An official from the Tourism Council said, "I am pleased that the sense of urgency shared by the local tourism industry during the year-end meeting with Assemblyman Park Ji-won was not in vain. The tangible result of being selected as a recipient of national funding makes it all the more meaningful."

The official added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the government's bold vacation support program and marketing efforts linked with the local community create synergy, enabling Wando tourism to once again flourish as the nation's top stay-type destination."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.