The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are launching a new competition aimed at discovering innovative policies to revitalize local tourism. This initiative seeks to enhance regional tourism competitiveness by supporting ideas from the policy stage, moving beyond traditional performance-based awards.
From July 21 to October 20, the two ministries will hold the 'Star of Korean Tourism (Regional Tourism Innovation Idea Competition)' for local governments across the country.
This competition is the first joint project initiated by the 'Regional Tourism Policy Council,' which was established on July 16. It focuses on identifying policies that can address challenges such as regional decline and domestic economic stagnation through tourism.
The competition will cover four categories: innovation in tourism products, promotion of tourism consumption, restoration of trust in tourism, and tourism income generation. After a review process, 13 local governments with outstanding proposals will be selected to receive financial incentives, with the amount to be determined later.
If the selected policies lead to successful local projects, they will also have the opportunity to advance to the finals of the 'Star of Korean Tourism' next year.
This competition distinguishes itself from the existing 'Star of Korean Tourism' program. While the 'Star of Korean Tourism' evaluates and awards achievements of excellent tourist sites, organizations, and individuals, the 'Star of Korean Tourism' focuses on supporting local governments from the policy conception stage through to implementation and results.
Additionally, the 'Star of Korean Tourism' will revise its award system starting this year. The top award, 'Tourist Destination of the Year,' will be elevated from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award to the Prime Minister's Award.
Nominations will be accepted from July 21 to August 7. Awards will be presented across three categories: tourist sites and content, tourism policy and services, and tourism marketing.
Gang Jeong-won, head of the Tourism Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "We will actively support creative local tourism policies to ensure they lead to tangible results. We hope the diverse ideas from the newly launched local governments will become a new growth engine for regional tourism."
Song Kyung-joo, head of the Local Finance and Economy Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, remarked, "Tourism is a key sector directly linked to the local economy. We hope innovative policies utilizing unique local resources will invigorate the regions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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