Korea Tourism Organization Selects 7 New 'Wellness Tourism Destinations' to Boost Body and Mind Immunity

The appearance of Geumgang Pine.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Tourism Organization announced on the 27th that it has newly selected seven "2021 Recommended Wellness Tourism Destinations" that enhance both physical and mental immunity.

The "Recommended Wellness Tourism Destinations" initiative has been promoted since 2017 to foster excellent models of wellness tourism in line with the experiential tourism trend seeking healing through travel. Destinations are selected through written and on-site evaluations by a panel of experts from academia and industry based on criteria such as commercialization potential, originality and intimacy, and local government commitment. With seven new destinations added this year, the total number now stands at 51.

This year’s wellness tourism destinations were categorized into four themes: "Nature & Forest Healing," "Healing & Meditation," "Oriental Medicine," and "Beauty & Spa." For experiential tourism sites offering healing in nature with low tourist density under the "Nature & Forest Healing" theme, "Geumgangsong Ecorium," which operates accommodations finished with Geumgang pine in Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk?one of the world’s largest Geumgang pine forests?and "High1 Resort HAO Wellness" in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon, which provides healthy travel experience programs for family vacationers, were selected.

Under the "Healing & Meditation" theme that strengthens mental immunity, "Romizian Garden" in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon, offers meditation on a 100,000-pyeong site with Garwangsan Mountain as a backdrop and horticultural therapy at the Begonia House filled with begonia flowers. Also selected was "Jwagusan Natural Recreation Forest" in Jeungpyeong-gun, Chungbuk, which offers flower tea tasting and foot baths with flower tea cultivated and produced by staff, along with various programs at the healing meditation center overlooking the foothills of Jwagusan Mountain.

Two destinations were selected under the "Oriental Medicine" theme, which attracts high interest from foreign tourists. The "Seoul Oriental Medicine Promotion Center," located in Je-gidong Yakryeong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, offers affordable wellness experiences including visits to the oriental medicine exhibition hall, outdoor foot baths, and oriental medical treatments. In Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, the "Gui Andeok Health Healing Experience Village" allows visitors to enjoy pulse diagnosis and healthy mugwort moxibustion at the village oriental clinic, as well as unique experiences such as using the loess steam room, exploring old gold mine caves, and walking village trails.

For the "Beauty & Spa" theme, "The Spa at Paradise" in Paradise City, Incheon, was selected, where visitors can experience personalized programs using aroma oils and flower teas. It is also a promising destination as an Incheon Metropolitan City transit tour product targeting transit foreign tourists linked with Incheon Airport after the COVID-19 recovery.

Kim Gwanmi, head of the Medical Wellness Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "Wellness tourism is expected to continue growing, with the industry size projected to reach 1,428 trillion won by 2027 due to increased health interest after COVID-19," adding, "We plan to continue expanding Korean wellness tourism."

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