South Korea has completed the administrative procedures to elevate the National Tourism Strategy Council, which serves as the control tower for the country's tourism policy, to a presidential-level body.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Choi Hwi-young) said the amendment to the Tourism Framework Act containing this change was approved at a cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex in Seoul on April 21. The ministry explained, "With this amendment, the National Tourism Strategy Council has been elevated from the prime minister's office to the presidential office, and functions such as performance evaluation of tourism promotion plans and policy feedback have been added, establishing a policy system with substantive executive power."
At the 11th (Expanded) National Tourism Strategy Council held in February, the president personally attended and affirmed a strong government-wide commitment to making tourism a driver of the national economy and regional development. This amendment formalizes the National Tourism Strategy Council as an operating body chaired by the president. The ministry noted that the change carries significant meaning in strengthening the government-wide policy implementation system, which will enhance the effectiveness of inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination and foster the tourism industry as a national strategic industry.
Notably, the amendment adds the evaluation of implementation performance and policy feedback to the council's deliberation and coordination matters, in addition to the establishment of tourism promotion plans. The aim is to maximize policy effectiveness by building a feedback system that reviews the performance of each ministry's tourism policy and reflects the results back into policy.
As a follow-up measure, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (President Park Sung-hyuk) will host the 'Tourism Policy Public Proposal Contest' from April 22 to May 12. Proposals will cover a total of eight fields centered on the 'Major Transition in Inbound Tourism, Major Leap in Regional Tourism' measures announced at the 11th National Tourism Strategy Council. Citizens wishing to participate can submit proposals through the event page on the 'Korea Tourism Organization Official Site' (Daehanminguk Guseokguseok) operated by the Korea Tourism Organization.
Kang Jung-won, head of the Tourism Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "The executive power and policy coordination function of the tourism policy implementation system have been significantly strengthened." He added, "Based on this strengthened policy foundation, we look forward to broad public interest and participation so that we can actively identify policies needed in the field," according to the ministry.
