Yeonggwang-gun Selected for the 'Open Tourist Site Development Contest'

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong] Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kang Jongman) announced on the 1st that Bulgapsa Tourist Site and Bulgap Reservoir Waterfront Park have been selected for the ‘2023 Open Tourism Site Development Contest’ hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Tourism Organization.

An open tourism site refers to a barrier-free tourist destination that can be used without inconvenience or restrictions on tourism activities by all tourists, including people with disabilities, the elderly, and families with infants and young children.

This year, a total of 41 tourist spots from 17 local governments applied for the open tourism site contest. After the first qualification check, the second document screening, and the third evaluation consisting of on-site assessments and presentation announcements by a panel of 10 experts in various fields, 20 sites from 9 local governments, including Yeonggwang Bulgapsa Tourist Site, were finally selected.

With this selection, the county will receive 500 million KRW in national funds and invest 500 million KRW of county funds to carry out phased improvements such as installing wheelchair routes and braille signboards, improving ramps, enhancing movement routes, and renovating outdated restroom facilities for vulnerable tourism groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly.

A county official said, “We will do our best to develop Bulgapsa, a thousand-year-old temple with a millennium of history, and Bulgap Reservoir Waterfront Park into ‘tourist destinations where everyone is happy,’ accessible at any time to vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and the elderly through this open tourism site development project.”

Meanwhile, in 2018, the Baeksu Coastal Road in Yeonggwang was selected for the open tourism site contest and developed as an open tourism site.

Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong baekok@asiae.co.kr

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