The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister PARK Bo Gyoon, MCST) together with Korea Tourism Organization (CEO KIM Jang Sil, KTO) has selected  and announced 20 tourist destinations in Korea’s nine tourism zones for the 2023 Accessible Tourist Sites Development Project on November 29 (Tue).

Launched to make tourism more accessible and convenient for all Koreans, the Project aims to remove barriers for those with reduced mobility, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and pregnant women as well as parents with young children; develop experience-based travel content unique to each tourist spot; provide Barrier-Free Travel through online and offline channels; and raise public awareness on Barrier-Free Travel.

The invitation to bid for next year’s Project attracted 17 local governments with a total of 41 proposals. The final sites were selected after three rounds of screening: qualification check, bid proposal review, and on-site check. The key selection criteria considered were the feasibility of the proposal and the commitment of the submitting local government. After the rigorous assessment, the final 20 tourist sites were selected as below: 

<Final 20 Barrier-Free Tourist Sites Selected for 2023>

With customized on-site consulting by Barrier-Free certification[1] specialists, these destinations will be developed into experienced-based tour content sites by type of mobility limitation after detailed environmental enhancement planning and travel infrastructure improvements and renovations, especially regarding ramps, drops or rises in floor levels, ticket booths, and pathways.

For accessible tourist spots already developed by their respective local government, MCST and KTO will create and operate a sharing-themed tour program where persons with disabilities and other less privileged tourists can enjoy real travel experiences. In addition, they will strengthen the online and offline promotion of these tourist sites with a particular focus on their improved mobility features and link it with the nation’s Barrier-Free tourist information platform (access.visitkorea.or.kr), thereby making travel information more easily and conveniently available.

The MCST official said, “We will continue to carry out the Project in partnership with local governments and the private sector to improve tourism facilities and related infrastructure features to create a friendly travel environment where everyone can enjoy their trip conveniently and safely.”