Creating 'Barrier-Free Tourism Zones' Accessible to Everyone... Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization Announce Call for Target Areas

Next Year's Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project Contest
Up to 4 Billion KRW Support Over 3 Years

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization are taking steps to support tourism-vulnerable groups by expanding 'barrier-free tourism zones' where anyone can travel.

Jeongdongjin Sandglass Park
[Photo by Korea Tourism Organization]

On the 29th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced that they will hold a public contest for the '2024 Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project (formerly Barrier-Free Tourism City)' targeting local governments nationwide from January 8 to February 29 next year.

The 'Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project' is a program that strengthens the accessibility and connectivity of various tourism elements such as tourist sites, facilities, and information within specific zones, so that tourism-vulnerable groups including people with disabilities can engage in tourism activities without interruption.

Gangneung City was selected as the first barrier-free tourism city in 2022. Through this contest, a second target location will be newly selected.

The final selected local governments will receive up to 4 billion KRW in national funding over three years. Through the designation as a barrier-free tourism city, efforts will be made to improve ▲ barrier-free tourism transportation ▲ barrier-free tourism infrastructure (including private facilities such as accommodation, dining, and shopping) ▲ barrier-free tourism information guidance ▲ and barrier-free tourism services.

The Barrier-Free Tourism Connectivity Enhancement Project aims to create an environment that guarantees the right to enjoy travel for all tourists, including tourism-vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly, families with infants and young children, and pregnant women. Detailed information can be found on the Korea Tourism Industry Portal TourAZ website and the Open Tourism Everyone’s Travel website. It will also be introduced at the local government project briefing session on January 12 next year.

Park Jong-taek, Director of the Tourism Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Barrier-free tourism requires that the physical accessibility and services of tourist sites and related facilities be seamlessly connected from the demand side’s perspective." He added, "We will prioritize the needs of tourism-vulnerable groups to improve tourism infrastructure and expand the barrier-free tourism industry, contributing not only to the competitiveness of tourist destinations but also to the revitalization of local economies."

Kim Hyung-jun, Director of the Tourism Welfare and Safety Center at the Korea Tourism Organization, said, "With the rapid increase in the domestic disabled and elderly population, the importance of a barrier-free tourism environment is growing." He added, "We ask for the interest and participation of local governments nationwide to create an environment where all citizens, including tourism-vulnerable groups, can travel without discrimination."

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