Efforts are underway to broaden the travel routes of foreign tourists, traditionally concentrated in areas like Myeongdong and Gangnam, to regional destinations. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), led by President Park Seong-hyeok, is working on establishing a reservation platform for local dining while accelerating the development of tourism content driven by local residents, thereby expanding the 'K-Local tourism' ecosystem.
◆ Partnership with Catch Table to Ease Dining Reservations for Foreign Tourists
On June 5, KTO signed a business agreement with Wad, the operator of the dining platform Catch Table, to promote culinary tourism for foreign visitors and expand the local tourism ecosystem. The agreement focuses on addressing the challenges foreign tourists face due to a lack of information and difficulties in making reservations at local restaurants. The two parties plan to collaborate on various projects centered around the KTO's selected local culinary content, 'K-Local Culinary Journey 33.'
KTO aims to enhance services through the Catch Table global app, allowing foreign tourists to search for local restaurant information, make reservations, and process payments all in one place. This initiative seeks to improve accessibility for foreign visitors, enabling them to enjoy local dining experiences without language barriers and encouraging tourism spending beyond the metropolitan area.
◆ 48 New Local Tourism Businesses Selected Across 21 Regions
Simultaneously, efforts to expand content supply for attracting tourists are being pursued. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KTO announced the final selection of 48 new resident-run tourism businesses for the '2026 Tourism Dure' program. Tourism Dure supports local residents in starting and operating tourism businesses that utilize local resources for accommodations, dining, experiences, souvenirs, and travel.
Launched in 2013, the Tourism Dure initiative has identified and nurtured over 1,400 resident-led tourism businesses across 152 regions nationwide. This year's call for applications saw participation from 116 resident businesses across 21 basic local governments, with the final 48 selected after document reviews, on-site inspections, and presentations.
The selected businesses will receive support for up to five years, with a maximum funding limit of 110 million won for education, consulting, pilot project operations, and legal and tax advice. The largest number of selected businesses comes from South Chungcheong Province with 11, followed by South Jeolla with 8 and North Gyeongsang with 6. Gyeonggi, South Gyeongsang, and Ulsan each had 5, while Gangwon had 3, and North Jeolla and Gwangju each had 2, with Busan having 1, indicating a balanced selection. The majority of the selected business types are in the experience sector at 52%, followed by dining at 23%, travel at 17%, and souvenirs at 8%.
Notably, several business models led by young entrepreneurs include 'Kkulkkak House,' a culinary experience space utilizing Busan's traditional fermentation culture, and 'Bintum Farm,' a wellness program linked to smart farms and the West Sea Trail in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province.
The Ministry and KTO will also recruit participants for the '2026 Youth Tourism Dure Plus Project' starting June 10, focusing on supporting young entrepreneurs. About 100 businesses currently operating or preparing to launch will be selected to receive tailored consulting and market development assistance, with up to 26 million won in commercialization funds available per business.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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