To effectively attract foreign tourists through regional airports and enhance local tourism, tailored strategies for each airport are essential. It is crucial to not only increase passenger numbers but also to create conditions that promote local stays and spending through tourism products and transportation.
During a panel discussion at the '2nd Current Trends in Korean Tourism Data Seminar' held on August 27 in Seoul, Jeong Ran-soo, a professor at Hanyang University, stated, "Policies have been implemented with regional airports viewed as a collective, but each airport has its own characteristics and tourist travel patterns."
Professor Jeong emphasized the growing importance of regional airports in revitalizing local tourism. He noted that while tourists were previously attracted to hub airports, there is now a trend toward a 'local to local (L2L)' approach that connects regions directly.
He explained, "Tourists arriving at Incheon or Gimpo airports must return to the metropolitan area to depart, which means direct access through regional airports can help increase local stays."
However, he pointed out that each airport faces unique challenges.
Cheongju Airport has demonstrated the potential for growth among regional airports, but there are limitations in connecting the increased number of arrivals to local stays and spending. Professor Jeong remarked, "Cheongju Airport has shown that regional airports can succeed, but it still faces the challenge of many tourists moving back to the metropolitan area or not spending significantly in the region."
Social data reflected a similar trend. Professor Jeong noted, "Discourse related to stays around Cheongju Airport is almost nonexistent," analyzing that Cheongju serves more as a gateway for travelers heading to other regions rather than a final destination. He suggested that there is a need to increase tourism products that allow visitors to enjoy the area and improve transportation links between the airport and major tourist sites.
In contrast, Daegu Airport presents a different situation. Although the number of foreign arrivals has not significantly increased, there is a noticeable trend of visitors staying and spending in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The issue lies in its low recognition.
Professor Jeong stated, "While the number of tourists at Daegu Airport has not increased significantly, those who do arrive tend to stay and spend in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area. However, Daegu Airport lacks visibility." He believes that before encouraging longer stays, efforts must be made to raise awareness of the airport and the region among international tourists.
He cited examples from Japan, mentioning Kobe and Matsuyama. Professor Jeong noted that with the recent expansion of international flights at Kobe Airport, the number of Korean travelers has increased. Previously, tourists would enter through Kansai Airport and visit Osaka before heading to Kobe, but now more travelers are choosing Kobe as their destination.
Matsuyama is highlighted as a case where air routes are actively linked with local tourism services. The city offers free limousines from the airport to the city center for Korean tourists and provides benefits for using tourist facilities like cable cars, effectively connecting regional visits to stays and spending.
Professor Jeong concluded, "We should not approach airports as a single package but rather develop different policies and travel routes for each airport. Designing strategies that consider the language and nationality of users will be much more effective."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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