The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister HWANG Hee, MCST) newly selected Gyeongsangbuk-do (Yeongju, Yeongyang, Yeongdeok, Bonghwa, Uljin) as a “Wellness Tourism District (cluster)” for 2022. As interest in wellness and relaxation increase after COVID-19 pandemic, “wellness tourism” is expected to grow significantly[1]. Discovering resources for wellness tourism in each region will greatly contribute to revitalizing the local tourism industry, which faced difficulty during the pandemic all over the world.

 Gyeongsangbuk-do is a “Wellness Tourism Cooperation District” where people can balance between their work and rest through the five basic facilities, including “Korea Forest Welfare Institute” and “Baekdudaegan National Arboretum”. In addition, the region also plans to create a virtuous cycle by nurturing professional experts to vitalize local-based wellness tourism, create jobs, and support employment and start-ups in the future.

MCST supported Gyeongsangnam-do in 2018, Chungcheongbuk-do in 2019, and Gangwon-do in 2020 as 'Wellness Tourism Cooperation Districts', in order to create new demand for the tourism industry by discovering and nurturing unique wellness tourism resources in the region. This year, the ministry will continue to provide support by comprehensively evaluating the project performance in 2021 and business plan for 2022.

Specifically, Gyeongsangnam-do develops and promotes products that combine forest and marine resources with oriental medicine and spiritual training, particularly focusing on wellness tourist destinations selected by MCST. Chungcheongbuk-do organizes products using the resources of the wellness tourism from the city of Chungju and Jecheon and holds the festival for resting your mind and body. Gangwon-do builds regional-specific contents in preparation for the resumption of international tourism in connection with tourism resources and accommodation and experiencing facilities and holds wellness week, focusing on five elements of grain, scent, beats, rural, and party.

   In addition, MCST together with the Korea Tourism Organization (President AHN Young-bae, KTO) will strengthen strategic support so that “Wellness Tourism” can grow quantitatively and qualitatively this year. As the first step, 50 tourist destinations for wellness tourism have been selected since 2019. Furthermore, the ministry supports the development of the wellness tourism industry by developing the relevant tourism products in cooperation with the travel industry, producing and distributing printed materials and videos to promote tourist destinations.

 Meanwhile, approximately 7,400 people (medical staff, experts, health officials, and firefighters) who were in the frontline of responding and dealing with the COVID-19 will be provided with opportunities to relax and enjoy in the wellness tourism.