Jeonnam Province to Invest 142 Billion Won in Regional Specialized 'Tourism Development Projects' This Year

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is investing a total budget of 142 billion KRW, including 71 billion KRW of provincial funds, to promote regionally specialized tourism development projects in line with changing tourism trends.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 3rd, the regionally specialized tourism development project focuses on securing differentiation through convergence tourism that incorporates 4th Industrial Revolution technologies and creating convenient tourism conditions for travelers.

The province has selected 133 projects in three areas: tourist site development, cultural tourism resource development, and ecological green tourism resource development, and plans to actively expand tourism infrastructure in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era.

This year’s projects were finally selected through expert consulting from those requested by cities and counties, and are expected to be developed into tourism resources that allow safe, non-face-to-face travel by leveraging Jeonnam’s pristine natural scenery and abundant marine, ecological, and cultural resources.

To this end, the province will focus on promoting 64 projects (62.3 billion KRW) themed on outdoor activities and night tourism linked with marine and walking trails, 28 healing and relaxation projects (25.6 billion KRW), and 16 island and marine tourism projects (23.5 billion KRW), investing 111.4 billion KRW, which is 78.5% of the total project cost.

Additionally, 16 projects worth 16.7 billion KRW will be supported to diversify tourism content and develop tourism resources utilizing historical and humanities resources, and 9 projects worth 13.9 billion KRW will be funded to improve convenience facilities for tourism vulnerable groups.

In each sector, the tourist site development area will invest 31.5 billion KRW in 17 projects such as the public contest projects for regenerating aging tourist sites, expansion of the Bulgapsa Temple tourist site in Yeonggwang, and creation of the night-themed street at Nokjin tourist site in Jindo to meet experience consumption and travel activity trends.

The cultural tourism resource development area has allocated 83.7 billion KRW for 84 projects including the construction of the Seonso Theme Video Exhibition Hall in Yeosu, the Hwansunjeong Creative Garden tourism attraction project in Suncheon, the establishment of the Yeongsanpo History Experience Center in Naju, the creation of the Gubongsan area tourism hub in Gwangyang, and the Seomjingang Fairy Tale Garden in Gokseong.

Through theme-centered projects, the province aims to cultivate travel destinations that anyone can enjoy, focusing on integrating culture and tourism to reflect the value of travel in project selection.

In the ecological green tourism resource development area, 26.8 billion KRW will be invested in 32 projects including the creation of the 30-ri Mokpo Beach Flavor Road, the development of the Damyang Damyangho waterfront trail, the establishment of the Jirisan wildflower garden in Gurye, maintenance of the Geogeumdo trail in Goheung, and the creation of the Tamjin River Ecological Theme Park in Jangheung.

The focus is on attracting non-face-to-face tourism demand by expanding alternative tourist sites after COVID-19, such as nature observation trails and ecological, natural recreation, and experience facilities.

Kim Byungju, Director of Tourism, Culture, and Sports Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “Tourism development projects have so far focused on improving environments to attract group tourists. This year, we will fully commit to attracting stay-type tourists by building a tourism ecosystem that reflects the changed tourism trends due to COVID-19.”

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