Jeonnam Province Launches KTTP 'Public-Private Consultative Body'... Expected to Lead as a Global Tourism Hub

Tourism Corporation, Airport Corporation, KT, Jeju Air, and Others Sign MOU... Project Promotion Gains Momentum

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has launched a public-private consultative body that will play a leading role in transforming the region into the center of global tourism in Korea through the Korea Total Tourism Package (KTTP) project. Along with this, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed among the executing entities to accelerate the project’s progress.

On the 21st, Jeonnam Province held an inauguration ceremony for the KTTP public-private consultative body for stay-type tourism, attended by about 30 heads of institutions and organizations including Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province; Lee Geon-cheol, CEO of Jeonnam Tourism Foundation; Lee Jae-cheol, Director of Muan Airport at Korea Airports Corporation; and Lee Sang-tae, Director of Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch of Korea Tourism Organization.

This follows the selection of the ‘Jeonnam KTTP’ project, prepared to revitalize Muan Airport and expand foreign tourist attraction, in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s ‘Regional Innovation Integrated Support’ competition.

The public-private consultative body consists of 25 members including tourism industry practitioners, heads of related institutions and organizations, and university professors, to effectively promote the ‘Regional Innovation Integrated Support’ project supported by nine ministries including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Enhanced communication and active participation among institutions are expected.

Additionally, a working-level council composed of 32 staff members from related institutions and organizations was formed to frequently collaborate on developing and implementing detailed project plans. The province had planned to hold the working-level council simultaneously but postponed the schedule due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

At the inauguration ceremony, Jeonnam Province, Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Airports Corporation, KT, and Jeju Air signed a memorandum of understanding.

Jeju Air CEO Kim I-bae and Seo Chang-seok, Head of KT Jeonnam-Jeonbuk Regional Headquarters, attended in person, while Kim Myung-woon, Vice President of Korea Airports Corporation, and Shin Sang-yong, Head of Tourism Industry Division at Korea Tourism Organization, participated remotely.

The agreement was established to revitalize Muan Airport, the international gateway to the southwestern region of Korea, and to build a sustainable tourism ecosystem in Jeonnam by attracting domestic and international tourists.

Each institution agreed to cooperate on building a big data-based smart tourism platform, promoting Jeonnam tourism and Muan Airport domestically and internationally, developing content for regionally self-contained tourism, and creating leading models that enhance tourists’ experiences.

Professor Shim Won-seop of Mokpo National University said, “KTTP is the first attempt to comprehensively promote tourism projects scattered across various ministries, and I hope Jeonnam ties the first button well.”

Professor Park Chang-gyu of the Provincial University emphasized, “The success of the project depends on developing an experiential Korean tourism leading model where domestic and foreign tourists can feel and be satisfied with the Korean identity.”

Han Seung-joo, Chairman of the Jeonnam Merchants Association, advised, “We need to establish a well-prepared reception system including multilingual signboards centered on traditional markets selling popular items among foreigners such as seaweed, ginseng, and dried seafood.”

Woo Seung-ha, President of Shinan Beach Hotel, stated, “We should develop stay-type products focused on hidden tourist spots like Shinan Purple Island, Wando Cheongsando, and Mokpo Modern History Museum, suitable for the COVID-19 era.”

Governor Kim Young-rok of Jeonnam said, “The Korea Total Tourism Package project has laid the foundation to revitalize Muan Airport and relaunch Jeonnam Province as a global tourism destination,” and urged, “All participating institutions in the public-private consultative body, including those signing the MOU, should make every effort for the takeoff of Jeonnam tourism.”

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