Shinan Purple Island, Gochang Dolmen, and Ungok Wetland Village Named UN Best Tourism Villages

Solving Regional Imbalance and Rural Population Decline through Tourism
Vice Minister Kim Jeong-bae: "An Opportunity to Enhance Korea's Tourism Leadership"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 2nd that Jeonnam Sinan Purple Island and Jeonbuk Gochang Dolmen and Ungok Wetland Village were included in the 1st 'Best Tourism Village' selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The UNWTO is the world's largest intergovernmental organization in the field of tourism. At the 24th General Assembly held in Madrid, Spain, the Best Tourism Villages, including two villages from Korea, were awarded. Kim Jeong-bae, the 2nd Vice Minister who attended the assembly as Korea's chief representative, shared the joy of the award with Park Woo-ryang, Mayor of Sinan County, and Lee Joo-cheol, Deputy Governor of Gochang County.

The UNWTO piloted the Best Tourism Village program this year to address issues such as regional imbalance and rural population decline through tourism. The application was limited to villages with fewer than 15,000 residents based on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and livestock farming. Each country was allowed to recommend up to three villages. The first application saw participation from 170 villages across 75 countries. The UNWTO evaluated cultural and natural resources and potential, economic and social sustainability, and public-private cooperation (governance) to select 44 villages as Best Tourism Villages.

Sinan Purple Island consists of Banwol and Bakji Islands, where about 130 residents live. Through the efforts of Sinan County Office and the residents, it has transformed into a tourist destination that is dyed purple all year round and attracts visitors. Gochang Dolmen and Ungok Wetland Village is home to about 380 residents who relocated due to the development of Ungok Reservoir. They addressed rural issues such as aging and population decline through eco-cultural tourism utilizing dolmens and the Ramsar-designated Ungok Wetland. Vice Minister Kim said, "Korea's lesser-known tourism resources have been introduced to the world and recognized as an excellent case of solving social problems," adding, "This is an opportunity to enhance Korea's tourism leadership."

Meanwhile, Vice Minister Kim met with Fernando Vald?s Verelst, Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, to discuss cooperative projects to successfully promote the extended 'Korea-Spain Mutual Visit Year' until next year.

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