The effort to expand the entry points for international visitors from Incheon and Gimpo airports to regional airports is gaining momentum. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 10 that it has established the 'Five Major Tourism Zones Centered on Regional Airports' to create new growth axes for regional tourism.
The budget allocated by the ministry amounts to 935 billion won, which includes 659 billion won from the national budget and 276 billion won from local governments, based on the 2027 government budget proposal. The goal is to attract 30 million international visitors by 2029, with 5 million of those entering through regional airports. This year, the number of visitors arriving at regional airports and ports within the five tourism zones is projected to reach 2.56 million.
The selected tourism zones include: Gimhae Airport (Busan–Gyeongju–Ulsan–Geoje–Tongyeong), Daegu Airport (Daegu–Gyeongju–Andong), Cheongju Airport (Cheongju–Gongju–Buyeo–Iksan–Jeonju), Yangyang Airport (Yangyang–Gangneung–Sokcho), and Muan Airport (Muan–Mokpo–(former) Gwangju–Yeosu).
A selection committee composed of tourism experts evaluated proposals from regional governments, considering data on tourist demand, tourism appeal, transportation conditions, and potential for expansion. The committee decided to integrate the Gimhae and Daegu tourism zones, taking into account their physical proximity and the travel patterns of international visitors, with Gyeongju serving as a connecting link. Gimhae Airport is a gateway for visitors to the southeastern coast, while Daegu Airport serves as an inland entry point with well-connected airport and rail services. The integration of these two zones is expected to foster growth comparable to that of the capital region.
The Gimhae Airport tourism zone will link Busan's K-culture and urban marine and leisure content, Ulsan's industrial tourism and MICE resources, Geoje and Tongyeong's scenic coastal views and wellness and cultural arts, and Gyeongju's historical resources. The Daegu Airport tourism zone will highlight the region's K-cultural heritage, medical tourism, urban tourism, and modern historical tourism, with Andong's Confucian cultural tourism and Gyeongju's Silla historical tourism receiving high marks for their appeal and uniqueness.
The Cheongju Airport tourism zone will focus on the historical and traditional culture of Baekje, covering the area from 'Cheongju–Gongju–Buyeo–Iksan–Jeonju.' The potential for Cheongju Airport visitors to travel beyond the capital region to the inland areas of Chungcheong and Jeonbuk was a key consideration. This zone will connect Cheongju's cultural and artistic offerings, shopping and MICE resources, the UNESCO Baekje Historic Areas in Gongju, Buyeo, and Iksan, and Jeonju's traditional cultural tourism. Expanding the travel routes for international visitors to include Muan Airport is expected to provide new momentum for tourism development in the southwestern region.
The Yangyang Airport tourism zone will encompass 'Yangyang–Gangneung–Sokcho.' Gangwon Province is the second most visited area by domestic tourists after the capital region, highlighting the need to attract more international visitors through Yangyang Airport and enhance connections among local tourist sites. The committee selected Gangneung and Sokcho based on the efficiency and accessibility of travel routes for visitors arriving at Yangyang Airport. The potential for a combined tourism zone featuring the natural beauty of Seoraksan National Park, surfing tourism along the East Coast, sports tourism leveraging K-content filming locations and Winter Olympic heritage in Gangneung, and marine tourism resources in Sokcho is highly regarded.
The Muan Airport tourism zone is designed as a triangular belt connecting air, sea, and inland transportation. It includes 'Muan–Mokpo (Airport)–(former) Gwangju (KTX)–Yeosu,' considering that Yeosu Port and Gwangju's KTX station can serve as gateways for international visitors. By linking the culinary culture of Namdo with the coastal tourism of Muan and Mokpo, the cultural and artistic resources of (former) Gwangju, and the island and leisure resources of Yeosu, this zone aims to develop into a representative stay-type tourism area for the southwestern region.
The Ministry of Culture has established a 'Gold' strategy to shift the current concentration of inbound tourism in the capital region to the local level. This strategy aims to promote regions globally (Global Branding), facilitate direct entry into local areas (One-Stop & Pass), ensure seamless transportation and payment (Linkage), and create diverse attractions (Diversity).
For specific projects, 18 billion won will be invested in overseas marketing centered on the tourism zones. Previously, promotional efforts were conducted separately by individual regions, but now they will be consolidated under tourism zone brands, with the Korea Tourism Organization and local governments collaborating on content creation and overseas advertising.
Additionally, 14.3 billion won has been allocated to attract visitors through connections between regional airports and ports (cruise destinations). The current structure, which takes 4 to 5 hours to travel from Incheon and Gimpo airports to major regional tourist sites, will be transformed to allow direct entry through regional airports and ports. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will work with local governments to expand international flight routes from regional airports and develop tourism products linked to these airports.
Furthermore, 14.9 billion won will be invested in improving transportation networks and payment convenience for shopping. The plan includes enhancing public transportation connections between cities within the tourism zones based on regional airports and introducing a 'Korea Tourism Integrated Pass' that combines transportation payments with discounts at tourist sites. An additional 18.7 billion won will be allocated to discover and develop specialized tourism content unique to each tourism zone.
The Ministry of Culture will collaborate with relevant ministries, local governments, and the Korea Tourism Organization to establish a medium- to long-term plan from 2027 to 2030 for each tourism zone. This plan aims to foster super-regional tourism zones that transcend individual administrative areas, connecting the five regional airports with tourism in the capital region and Jeju.
Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, 'Thanks to the K-culture wave, the number of inbound tourists is reaching record highs. However, to open the era of 30 million visitors and move toward 40 million, the current structure centered on the capital region is insufficient. We need a 'Golden Route' for inbound tourism centered on regional airports to encourage visitors to explore local areas.'
He added, 'The Ministry of Culture will work closely with local governments and the Korea Tourism Organization to enhance the international recognition of regions, improve transportation, shopping, and accommodation readiness, and discover and develop tourism appeal. Through the development of tourism zones, we aim to achieve 30 million visitors and 5 million regional visitors by 2029.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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