"Tourist Destinations Exist, but Hard to Reach"...KTO Invites Applications for Transportation Improvement Project

"Tourism Transportation Promotion Area" Project

Four Local Governments to Be Selected for 800 Million Won Projects Each

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization announced on March 5 that they are accepting applications from local governments to participate in the "2026 Tourism Transportation Promotion Area" project, aimed at improving regional tourism accessibility, until April 7.

Last year, Yeongdeok County in Gyeongbuk, selected as a 'Tourism Transportation Promotion Area,' enhanced visitor convenience by introducing a demand-responsive transportation system (DRT) and tourist taxis along the Coastal Blue Road. Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

The "Tourism Transportation Promotion Area" project is being implemented to address transportation blind spots in regions with high tourism potential but weak mobility infrastructure.

The application is open to 89 population-declining areas and 18 areas of interest, as designated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The Korea Tourism Organization plans to select a final total of four local governments through a comprehensive evaluation of local tourism capacity, tourism transportation conditions, and the appropriateness of project plans.

The selected local governments will each receive 400 million won in national funding for one year. Participating local governments must match with 400 million won in local funds, and with a total budget of 800 million won, they will establish and operate improved transportation infrastructure and tourism convenience services linking regional transportation hubs, major tourist attractions, and local routes.

The organization explained that last year, Yeongdeok County in Gyeongbuk, which was selected for the project, introduced a demand-responsive transport system (DRT) and tourist taxis along the coastal Blue Road to enhance visitor convenience.

Park Woojin, Head of the Tourism Transport Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "This project focuses on supporting local governments that have high tourism appeal but have been difficult to visit due to weak transportation systems," adding, "We aim to contribute to revitalizing regional tourism by improving travel convenience for visitors."

Detailed information about the application can be found on the Korea Tourism Industry Portal, "Tourraj."

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