South Korea selects regional airports for mega tourism zone development

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has selected two major regional tourism zones as part of its initiative to develop mega tourism areas centered around local airports. The project aims to decentralize foreign tourism from the Seoul metropolitan area by linking regional airports with nearby cultural and natural attractions.

The Gimhae Airport tourism zone will connect Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongju, Geoje, and Tongyeong. This zone seeks to create a ‘Gold Route’ that integrates Busan’s urban tourism and K-culture with the marine and wellness resources of Geoje and Tongyeong. Additionally, a ‘Southeast K-Heritage’ course will link the historical resources of Gimhae and Yangsan.

The Daegu Airport tourism zone will connect Daegu, Andong, and Gyeongju. Notably, Gyeongju has been selected for both the Gimhae and Daegu airport zones, making it the only city in the country to be included in multiple zones. This positioning allows Gyeongju to serve as a hub for both the southeastern and Daegu-Gyeongbuk regions.

The government plans to invest approximately 93.5 billion won (including 65.9 billion won in national funds) by 2027 to support these zones. Efforts will focus on developing integrated branding, enhancing transportation and payment convenience, and creating specialized tourism content centered on K-culture and local heritage to encourage longer stays by international visitors.