Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Sept. 25 chairs the 10th National Tourism Strategy Meeting at the tourism publicity center HiKR Ground of the Korea Tourism Organization in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Office of the Prime Minister and Office for Government Policy Coordination)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

A government plan released just two days before World Tourism Day on Sept. 27 sought to use three innovative strategies to promote tourism in the country to attract 30 million international tourists per year by 2030.

Chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, the 10th National Tourism Strategy Meeting said this on Sept. 25 at the tourism promotional center HiKR Ground of the Korea Tourism Organization in Seoul's Jung-gu District. The three strategies were "innovation in inbound tourism," "innovation in domestic tourism," and "innovation based on policy and industry."

The core points of this plan are developing the "second and third inbound tourism zones" to promote travel to the provinces; a one-year extension of the temporary exemption to the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization aka K-ETA; expansion of half-price domestic travel and vacations for workers; and a comprehensive overhaul of the tourism law system and business innovation based on artificial intelligence and data.

Prime Minister Kim said, "To ensure practical results, the Lee Jae Myung administration will develop K-content cultural tourism as a core strategic industry for the future and stimulate discussions within the government and consultations with the private sector."

dusrud21@korea.kr