MarineBusinessWorld,16 July 2010
The South Korean government is investing heavily in 'maritime and air-based leisure industries', to cater to the burgeoning appetites of the increasingly affluent and well-being conscious Koreans who are demanding more recreational options.
The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said last week that it will expand necessary leisure-related infrastructure and develop diverse tour programs, allowing vacationers to enjoy an array of recreational activities both in the water and in the air.
Under the plan, six ports specifically designed for cruise ships will be built in Incheon, Busan, Yeosu, and other coastal cities by 2020. This will encourage international vessels to anchor in the local harbors, attracting foreign tourists to come and spend money here. The total investment is estimated at 313 billion won for the project.
The government plans to nurture the local cruise ship industry to meet the keener interest of Koreans in this new leisure area.
'We are seeking to improve the level of the domestic water and air-based leisure infrastructure to those of advanced countries to encourage more Koreans to spend vacations here rather than abroad, which will create more jobs and boost domestic demand,' a ministry official said. 'We will financially aid leisure service providers and ease regulations on establishing various recreational activities.'
Among the latest steps designed to boost the domestic leisure sector, the government will beef up the availability of water skiing and other water-based recreational activities, while building marinas at the nation's ports to make it easier for holidaymakers to go sailing and boating.
An eco-friendly tour program, aimed at boosting the awareness of the importance of environmental conservation, will be introduced to enable tourists to experience what it is like to be part of the ecosystem on a mud flat and other natural settings.
The development of the domestic tourism industry has been pushed for by the Lee Myung-bak administration, with tens of thousands of Koreans heading overseas and spending billions of dollars each year on various leisure activities.
To create jobs, spur growth and better protect the export-dependent economy from outside shocks, the government has introduced a series of policy measures to boost the local tourism sector.
So far, the measures have not won over the local population, still enamoured with foreign leisure attractions, that are at this stage, more competitively priced
Source: MarineBusinessWorld
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