Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province-EATOF agree on five major cooperation tasks for sustainable international tourism

Five major cooperation tasks agreed at the general meeting... Promotion of tourism safety and local talent training

(Chuncheon = Yonhap News) Reporter Jaehyun Lee = Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and local governments of the East Asia Local Government Tourism Federation (EATOF) member local governments agreed on five major cooperation tasks for sustainable international tourism, including artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart tourism and carbon neutrality.

Gangwon Province announced on the 4th that it adopted a joint declaration with the same contents with member local governments and the Pacific Asia Tourism Association (PATA) at the 19th EATOF General Assembly Governors and Growth Conference held in Cebu, Philippines on the 3rd.

The joint declaration included five tasks, including designating a local green destination and practicing carbon neutrality, revitalizing high-value local content tourism, establishing a tourism model for cooperation between local governments, universities, and industries, creating an AI-based smart travel environment, and establishing a tourism safety and crisis management system.

Member local governments decided to develop PATA (Pacific Tourism Association) jointly certified tourism products that preserve regional natural and cultural heritage, including DMZ ecological and security tourism, and link gastronomy, traditional culture, and festivals.

In addition, we will use AI to create a smart travel environment that lowers language barriers, develop a tourism model in which local governments, universities, and industries participate, and foster local young talent.

It was also decided to establish a 'safe tourism network' in which member local governments jointly respond in the event of a disaster or crisis.

At the general meeting, an international symposium and bilateral talks between member local governments were held on the topic of sustainable regional tourism and cultural development strategies.

At the symposium, member countries identified common tasks and sought policy alternatives to respond to changing global tourism trends.

Deputy Economic Governor Shin Won-cheol said, “Based on the cooperation network between member local governments, we will expand practical cooperation, such as creating sustainable tourism and AI-based smart travel environments.”