Assemblyman Lee Byung-hoon: "Korea Tourism Organization Must Develop Tourism Policies for the Elderly"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] It has been confirmed that there are no projects targeting the elderly among the Korea Tourism Organization’s tourism policies.

According to the National Assembly inspection data submitted by Lee Byung-hoon, member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Dong-gu Nam-gu Eul), there are no senior tourism policies targeting those aged 65 and over among the projects promoted by the Korea Tourism Organization.

South Korea has already entered an aged society, with the elderly population aged 65 and over accounting for 15.7% in 2020, and it is expected to enter a super-aged society by 2025, exceeding 20%.

However, among the projects of the Korea Tourism Organization, a quasi-governmental agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that executes a budget of 354.3 billion won annually, there were no projects for the elderly aged 65 and over.

The only project that included the elderly was the Open Tourism Sites project, which improves the environment of travel destinations to enable barrier-free travel for the elderly, disabled, and others. It can be said that there are virtually no projects supporting senior tourism.

According to Statistics Korea’s “2018 Elderly Statistics,” 86.2% of the elderly aged 65 and over spent most of their weekdays and weekends watching TV, and 65.8% chose “tourism” as their most desired leisure activity.

Considering many research results showing that travel activities for the elderly have positive effects not only on physical health but also on psychological and social aspects, there is a need for the Korea Tourism Organization to promptly prepare travel programs for the elderly.

Assemblyman Lee Byung-hoon said, “The elderly, who have no choice but to watch TV at home due to various constraints, do not lack the desire to travel,” and added, “The Korea Tourism Organization needs to consider senior tourism policies so that the elderly, who are spending the twilight years of their lives, can access travel more easily.”

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