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| Holding the National Tourism Strategy Meeting presided over by the Prime Minister

In order to attract overseas tourists, "Working (work + vacation) visas" and "K Culture Training Visa" will be newly established. The government unveiled the 6th Basic Plan for Tourism Promotion (2023-2027) on the 12th, which aims to achieve 30 million foreign tourists and 30 billion dollars in tourism income by 2027 through deregulation.

The government confirmed it at the 7th National Tourism Strategy Meeting held at the Seoul Center of the Korea Tourism Organization in Cheonggyecheon, Seoul, presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, with related ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The slogan of the conference is 'Tourism Attractive Country with K Culture'. Prime Minister Han said, "We will create a 'Republic of Korea we want to experience' through abundant tourism resources such as cultural heritage and the Korean Wave."

Key Contents of the 6th Basic Tourism Promotion Plan

· Work visa, new K-culture training visa

· Creating a Blue House Historical, Cultural and Tourism Cluster

· Improvement of the Electronic Travel Permit System (K-ETA)

· Consideration of Lowering Hotel Transportation Induction Charges

· 500 billion won in tourism enterprise development fund

· Expansion of Regional Tourism Enterprise Center

· Introduction of integrated card for domestic tourism travel

· Promoting the Construction of the K Tourism Recreation Belt in the Southern Region

자료: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

To this end, it was decided to promote 2023-2024 as the Year of Visiting Korea and held a declaration ceremony on the same day. To this end, the "K Tourism Road Show" will be held in 50 cities around the world, including New York and Tokyo, under the slogan "K Culture's Home Country, to Korea." In addition, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon, and Seochon will be grouped around the fully open Cheong Wa Dae to create a "historical and cultural tourism cluster."

The Electronic Travel Permit System (K-ETA) itself, which caused controversy over "entry barriers," will continue, but the system will be revised to add a "collective information registration" function to K-ETA for the convenience of foreigners entering and leaving the country and support Japanese and Chinese in addition to existing English. In addition, group e-visas from Southeast Asian countries, which are currently limited to corporate reward tourism, will be expanded to general organizations to shorten the issuance period and establish a special visa-free exception for entry into Muan Airport for Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

In particular, the newly established "Working Visa" will allow foreigners to stay in Korea for one to two years while maintaining their employment, and the "K Culture Training Visa" will be for foreign teenagers who visit Korea to educate K-content such as the Korean Wave.

Along with reviewing the reduction of transportation inducement charges for the hotel industry, regulations on hiring overseas workers will be partially eased to resolve the job shortage. By 2027, 500 billion won will be raised in the tourism enterprise promotion fund, and the number of tourism enterprise support centers will be increased from 8 to 14 in Korea and from 1 to 10 overseas.

In order to revitalize domestic tourism, the "Travel Joint Card" will be introduced by 2024. The travel joint card is to collect and support travel-related benefits that were supported by the government, local governments, and private companies through mileage.

In addition, it will promote the "K Tourism Recreation Belt" by 2033 for the southern regions of Busan, Gwangju, Ulsan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam and prepare tourism content that combines art and high-tech technology. Five domestic islands will be selected and about 50 billion won will be invested over four years to create a "K-Tourism Island I Want to Go."

An official from the travel industry said, "It is regrettable that issues such as compensation for losses in the travel industry or the abolition of K-ETA, which are needed right now, are not included."

Sedaily 2022. 12. 12