Gangwon State pursues tourism diplomacy at EATOF summit

Gangwon State is engaging in tourism diplomacy to strengthen cooperation among East Asian local governments and enhance the global competitiveness of its tourism sector. Shin Won-cheol, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs of Gangwon State, is attending the 19th East Asia Tourism Organization of Local Governments (EATOF) summit held in Cebu, Philippines, from September 1 to 4.

The summit, themed ‘NEW EATOF, GO GLOCAL’, includes representatives from eight member local governments, including Cebu (Philippines), Quang Ninh (Vietnam), Sarawak (Malaysia), Luang Prabang (Laos), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Tottori (Japan), and Tubo (Mongolia), alongside officials from the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (PATA).

During the summit, Vice Governor Shin plans to propose three key agendas for future cooperation: the joint establishment of an AI and ICT-based ‘smart tourism ecosystem’, the strengthening of tourism data sharing and joint marketing, and the expansion of digital tourism talent training and public-private networks. Gangwon State also aims to promote its unique attractions, such as Yangyang Airport’s visa-free system, wellness tourism, and winter tourism, through a dedicated promotional booth.

Additionally, Gangwon State and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation have launched a project to attract stay-over tourists during the autumn off-season from September 1 to November 30. This initiative provides tiered accommodation discounts across three regions in Gangwon to encourage local consumption and prevent overcrowding in specific areas.