Improving Tourism Transportation Through Metropolitan Cooperation... Korea Tourism Organization Calls for Pilot Zone Proposals

Selection of Zones Linking Two or More Metropolitan Governments
25 Billion Won in National Funding to Be Provided Over Three Years

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have announced a call for applications for the "2026 Super-Regional Tourism Transport Innovation Pilot Zone" to enhance the convenience of inter-regional travel for inbound tourists.

Korea Tourism Organization Headquarters Building

The Korea Tourism Organization stated on May 8 that it will be recruiting metropolitan governments to participate in the super-regional tourism transport innovation pilot zone project, aimed at improving tourism transportation systems, from May 11 to June 19.

This call targets super-regional tourism zones that link two or more metropolitan governments. Participating organizations must form a consortium composed of at least two regions in different metropolitan areas, as well as local public institutions and private companies. They must also match the national government grant with an equal amount of local government funding over three years.

The Ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization plan to select one super-regional tourism zone by comprehensively evaluating local transportation conditions, tourism capabilities, and the adequacy of project plans. The selected local government will receive a total of 5 billion won over three years, including 2.5 billion won each from national and local government funds.

The chosen zone will implement projects to improve metropolitan and local tourism transportation and to establish and operate services that enhance convenience for tourists. The core objective is to expand transportation networks connecting tourism transport hubs and regional tourist attractions to improve accessibility to local tourism destinations.

Last year, the regions of Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province and Gongju and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province were selected and have been operating super-regional circular buses and demand-responsive transport (DRT) connecting transportation hubs to major tourist sites. The super-regional circular bus, which began full operations linking North and South Chungcheong Provinces in October last year, has surpassed 5,000 cumulative passengers.

Park Woojin, Head of the Tourism Transportation Team at the Korea Tourism Organization, stated, "This project focuses on expanding transportation networks that organically connect transportation hubs and regional tourist attractions across metropolitan governments. By combining attractive local tourism content with transportation infrastructure, we aim to create synergy through inter-regional connectivity and revitalize local tourism."

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