The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has unveiled a tourism policy blueprint aimed at achieving a 'K-Tourism era of 40 million visitors.' The strategy focuses not only on increasing the number of foreign tourists but also on enhancing regional tourism competitiveness through regional airports and fostering high-value tourism sectors such as medical and beauty tourism, thereby extending tourists' stay and spending.
During a report on the second half of the year held at the Blue House, the ministry identified 'establishing the foundation for the K-Tourism era of 40 million visitors' as one of its six key initiatives. The plan aims to expand the growth base of South Korea's tourism industry by enhancing tourism infrastructure, revitalizing regional tourism, and promoting high-value tourism.
This report marks a significant step in the ministry's ongoing efforts to promote regional tourism. The government has been expanding tourism policies that connect regional tourism around local international airports, and it is currently promoting a 'tourism zone development project' that integrates regional airports with nearby cities into a single tourism area. The report detailed plans to create a 'Golden Route' for inbound tourism centered on five regional airports, facilitating a natural flow of foreign tourists from Seoul to other regions.
To achieve this, the ministry plans to enhance tourism infrastructure, including airports, ports, and accommodations, while improving travel convenience through better transportation and simplified payment systems. Plans also include expanding multiple visas, increasing visa-free group tourism, and improving entry and exit procedures to enhance accessibility for foreign tourists.
The ministry is also placing emphasis on the qualitative growth of tourism. By strategically developing medical tourism, beauty tourism, and high-end tourism, it aims to increase per capita spending among tourists and enhance the added value of the tourism industry. This approach focuses on expanding the stay-oriented and high-spending tourism market rather than merely increasing visitor numbers.
Regional tourism content will also be significantly strengthened. The ministry plans to develop tourism products that link K-pop performances, drama filming locations, and local attractions, while the '100×100 Project' aims to discover new regional tourist destinations. Additionally, efforts will be made to rejuvenate aging tourist sites and diversify region-specific content, alongside campaigns to support domestic travel and promote tourism.
In the first half of this year, the ministry has already expanded its regional tourism activation policies. It has implemented tourism marketing that encompasses not only popular destinations like Seoul but also smaller cities, while enhancing accessibility for foreign tourists through the expansion of multiple visas and the attraction of irregular international routes to regional airports. As a result, inbound tourists in the first half of the year reached 10.71 million, a 21.3% increase compared to the same period last year. The ministry plans to build on this momentum in the second half of the year by strengthening regional tourism competitiveness and expanding tourism infrastructure to lay the groundwork for the 'K-Tourism era of 40 million visitors.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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