Jeonnam Province is working together to revitalize marine tourism and develop the local economy. On the 14th, Jeollanam-do held the Jeonnam Tourism Development Forum at Hotel Hyundai by Lahan Mokpo under the theme of ‘Leading the New Marine Tourism Era: Jeonnam’s Vision’ to revitalize marine tourism and develop the local economy.
The forum was held with the participation of over 200 people, including Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok, Jeonnam Provincial Council Chairman Kim Tae-gyun, National Assembly member Seo Sam-seok, the Korea Tourism Organization, the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, and the Korea Tidal Flat World Natural Heritage Registration Promotion Team, as well as officials and experts from the public, private and academic sectors in the tourism field. Speeches, topic presentations, and general discussions were held.
At the forum, various discussions were held to discover Jeonnam’s unique tourism content by utilizing Jeonnam’s marine resources and historical and cultural assets.
In the keynote speech, National Assembly Speaker Song Jae-ho, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, presented global trends and insights in marine tourism. It presented the direction in which Jeonnam should move, including introducing the latest marine tourism trends and sustainable tourism development cases.
Subsequently, Professor Shim Won-seop of Mokpo National University and Director of Planning and Coordination Park Kyeong-yeol of the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute gave presentations on ‘Successful cases and implementation strategies of inter-regional tourism cooperation’ and ‘Changes in marine tourism leisure trends and Jeonnam tourism content development direction’, respectively, and received a great response from the attendees. got it
In the general discussion, practical measures to revitalize tourism in Jeollanam-do were discussed in depth. Experts and officials presented various policy suggestions to help Jeonnam marine tourist sites become attractive tourist attractions for domestic and foreign tourists.
Jeonnam Province plans to accelerate the establishment of sustainable tourism policies and the creation of an inclusive tourism environment based on the suggestions made at this forum. In addition, we plan to establish a smart tourism infrastructure incorporating digital technology to establish Jeonnam as a world-class marine tourism destination.
In his welcoming speech on this day, Governor Kim Young-rok said, “Jeonnam has excellent tourism resources such as beautiful nature, history, culture, and humanities,” and “The Nobel Prize in Literature recently received by author Han Kang raises the dignity of the Republic of Korea beyond Jeollanam-do, and K-Culture “This was announced to the whole world.”
He continued, “In order to combine these resources and turn them into tourism resources, we are promoting ‘southern metropolitan tourism’ worth a total of 3 trillion won,” adding, “The original size of 680 billion won was increased to 3 trillion won through Jeonnam’s active suggestion. He emphasized, “We will do our best until the end to establish the ‘South Coast Comprehensive Development Agency’ and enact special laws to systematically develop the southern coast.”
Meanwhile, Jeollanam-do announced on the 14th that at the 40th Jeonnam Province Best Korean Beef Competition in 2024 to select excellent Korean beef from Jeonnam, Yeongam Park Jae-im Farm was selected as the overall champion and Jangheung Kim Seong-nam farm was selected as the grand prize winner in the high-quality meat category.
In this contest, professional judges from the Jeonnam-Gwangju Regional Headquarters of the Breeding Animal Breeding Association (high-quality Korean beef) and the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Livestock Product Quality Evaluation Institute (high-quality meat) comprehensively reviewed 99 cattle (73 high-quality Korean beef and 26 high-quality meat), and selected
The highest award of this competition, the Superior Korean Beef Overall Champion Award, was won by Yeongam Park Jae-im Farm (prize money of 10 million won). The growth and skeleton were excellent, and the crossbones were used to measure growth and development, and the balance of the body and legs was excellent. In addition, this is an achievement achieved through systematic measurement, such as not raising animals closely, minimizing stress in a spacious and comfortable environment, and participating in the Jeonnam Province calf branding project.
The grand prize in the high-quality meat category was awarded to Jangheung Kim Seong-nam Farm. By feeding fermented feed, digestion rate was increased to minimize energy and nutrient loss, and the rearing period was short and intramuscular fat content was excellent compared to other high-quality meat production farms.
In addition, 6 farms received excellence awards, 6 farms received encouragement awards, 5 farms received efforts awards, Yeongam-gun was selected as the best city and county, 2 cities and counties were selected as excellent and encouraged, and Yeongam Livestock Cooperatives were selected as the best livestock cooperatives, and 2 livestock cooperatives were selected as excellent and encouraged.
Park Do-hwan, head of the Jeonnam Provincial Livestock Policy Division, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Korean beef farms in Jeollanam-do for their efforts to improve Korean beef, and we will strive to lead the Korean beef industry and become a new hope for the livestock industry through continuous improvement of Korean beef.” He continued, “I urge Korean beef farmers, who are currently having difficulties due to the rise in feed prices and the decline in Korean beef prices, to endure the current crisis well, just as they have wisely overcome several price declines, including the IMF foreign exchange crisis, in the past.”
Jeonnam Province won the President’s Award (Grand Champion, prize money of 20 million won), the highest award of the competition, and excellence awards in three categories at the National Korean Beef Competition held every two years in 2022, achieving the feat of winning the overall championship for the first time in 53 years since the competition was held. This proved once again that Korean beef from Jeonnam is the best in Korea.
This contest, held during the fall forest fire warning period, was attended by about 250 people, including civil servants and forest fire extinguishers from 22 cities and counties, and 10 people from each city and county competed in teams.
In the field of forest fire integrated command, the operation of an advanced command vehicle system, the operation of a forest fire situation control system, the creation of a forest fire extinguishing situation board, the ability to use drones, and the creation of a forest fire extinguishing strategy were evaluated to improve the ability to install and operate a field command center in the event of a forest fire.
In the field of forest fire ground extinguishing, the fire extinguishing vehicle operation, installation of a simple water tank and medium-sized pump, distribution and hose installation and desalination, and construction of fire extinguishing lines were evaluated by measuring whether professional forest fire prevention and extinguishing personnel were proficient in forest fire extinguishing mechanized system equipment.
As a result, Goheung-gun, which boasted the quick establishment of an integrated command center at the forest fire site, the skilled operation of firefighting equipment among ground firefighting crews, and the best teamwork, won the overall grand prize.
In the field of integrated forest fire command, Suncheon City won the grand prize, Damyang-gun and Yeonggwang-gun won the Excellence Award, and Yeosu City, Boseong-gun, Gangjin-gun, and Yeongam-gun won the Encouragement Award. In the field of forest fire ground extinguishment, Jindo-gun won the grand prize, with Hwasun-gun and Naju-si receiving excellence awards,
Kang Shin-hee, head of the Forest Resources Division of South Jeolla Province, said, “This contest was an opportunity to strengthen our on-site response capabilities and raise our integrated command capabilities to the next level,” and added, “We will do our best to minimize damage by establishing forest fire prevention activities and an initial firefighting posture during the fall forest fire caution period.” “I will do it,” he said.
Economy Queen Reporter Hana Choi Photo: Jeonnam Province
What are the key strategies proposed for revitalizing marine tourism in Jeonnam Province?
Time.news Interview: Revitalizing Marine Tourism in Jeonnam Province
Interviewer: Hello and welcome to Time.news. Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Professor Shim Won-seop from Mokpo National University, who recently participated in the Jeonnam Tourism Development Forum. Thank you for joining us, Professor Shim!
Professor Shim: Thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Interviewer: The Jeonnam Tourism Development Forum, themed “Leading the New Marine Tourism Era: Jeonnam’s Vision,” brought together various stakeholders, from government officials to tourism experts. Can you describe the primary focus of this forum?
Professor Shim: Absolutely! The forum aimed to explore ways to revitalize marine tourism in Jeonnam Province by leveraging its unique marine resources alongside its rich historical and cultural heritage. We discussed not just the current challenges but also the potential that Jeonnam has in becoming a leading marine tourism destination.
Interviewer: That sounds exciting! Could you elaborate on the key insights shared during the keynote speech by National Assembly Speaker Song Jae-ho?
Professor Shim: Certainly. Speaker Song emphasized the global trends in marine tourism and presented case studies showcasing sustainable tourism practices. He stressed the importance of adapting these trends to the local context to ensure that Jeonnam can maximize its marine tourism potential while also preserving its natural resources.
Interviewer: Interesting! What specific strategies or successful cases were discussed during your presentation on inter-regional tourism cooperation?
Professor Shim: I highlighted the importance of collaboration among neighboring regions to create comprehensive tourist packages that attract visitors. Successful case studies from other parts of Korea and internationally demonstrated how pooling resources and marketing efforts can significantly boost tourist numbers. We focused on fostering cooperation between Jeonnam and adjacent provinces to promote a broader experience.
Interviewer: During the forum, practical measures were discussed. What were some of the key suggestions that emerged from these discussions?
Professor Shim: A variety of suggestions came forward, including enhancing digital infrastructure to create a smart tourism environment. This would allow for a seamless experience for tourists, from booking accommodations to learning about attractions. Additionally, establishing programs for sustainable tourism that engage local communities was highlighted as crucial for long-term success.
Interviewer: Jeonnam Province Governor Kim Young-rok mentioned the potential for ‘southern metropolitan tourism’ with significant financial backing. How do you see this impacting the region?
Professor Shim: The commitment of 3 trillion won to promote tourism is a game changer. It allows for substantial investment in infrastructure and marketing to position Jeonnam as a top marine tourism destination. This level of support can catalyze growth in related sectors, creating jobs and enhancing the local economy.
Interviewer: Beyond marine tourism, Jeonnam seems to be making strides in other areas, such as Korean beef production. How do you think these elements can synergize?
Professor Shim: They can create a holistic tourism experience. As visitors come for marine attractions, promoting local culinary offerings, like high-quality Korean beef, can enrich their overall experience. This encourages tourists to stay longer and explore more, benefiting both the tourism and agricultural sectors.
Interviewer: That’s a fascinating perspective! What do you believe are the biggest challenges Jeonnam might face in implementing these tourism initiatives?
Professor Shim: One major challenge is ensuring sustainable practices while scaling up. As tourism increases, maintaining the integrity of marine environments and local cultures is vital. Additionally, attracting investments and skilled workers to support these initiatives will be essential.
Interviewer: Lastly, with your expertise, how do you see Jeonnam’s tourism landscape evolving in the next few years?
Professor Shim: I foresee it transforming into a vibrant marine tourism hub that balances development with sustainability. If the strategies discussed at the forum are implemented effectively, Jeonnam can enhance its appeal to both domestic and international tourists, fostering economic resilience and cultural exchange.
Interviewer: Thank you, Professor Shim, for sharing your valuable insights. It’s clear that Jeonnam has an exciting journey ahead in marine tourism and beyond.
Professor Shim: Thank you for having me. I’m optimistic about Jeonnam’s potential and look forward to seeing these developments unfold.