South Korea puts national tourism strategy council under president, adds two ministries
In short
South Korea's Cabinet approved on 20 October a full revision of the rules for the National Tourism Strategy Council, whose chair is now the president, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. Fifteen ministries will take part, with the trade and industry and employment and labor ministries added. The revised rules take effect on the 29th.
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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the Cabinet meeting on 20 October approved a full revision of the rules on the composition and operation of the National Tourism Strategy Council. The council is chaired by the president and now includes 15 ministries. The revised rules take effect on the 29th. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The revision follows the April amendment of the Framework Act on Tourism, which changed the council's chair from the prime minister to the president. Yonhap described the council as a government-wide body that sets and coordinates major tourism policy directions and discusses issues between ministries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The Trade and Industry Ministry, which handles the exhibition industry linked to MICE tourism, and the Employment and Labor Ministry, which handles tourism workforce training and jobs policy, join the existing members. The senior presidential secretary for tourism policy also becomes a member, while the head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination is removed, Yonhap, ZDNet Korea and Seoul Shinmun reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The council's secretary moves from the ministry's second vice minister to the minister. The vice-ministerial coordination meeting, which discusses agenda items in advance, becomes a working-level coordination meeting chaired by the presidential senior secretary for tourism policy. Vice-minister-level officials of the relevant agencies take part. Asia Economy said the council is to meet twice a year as a principle, and ZDNet Korea added that the chair can adjust the timing. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
For private and local input, the rules allow an advisory panel of up to 20 tourism policy and industry experts, appointed by the culture minister for one-year terms, covering areas such as inbound tourism and regional tourism. A Regional Tourism Promotion Council, chaired by the ministry's second vice minister and joined by deputy heads of regional governments, is to gather local views on agenda items. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The council's remit now explicitly covers drawing up the tourism promotion plan and evaluating and reflecting its results, so that each ministry's policy performance is checked. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young (최휘영) said the council led by the president creates a public-private tourism cooperation body tailored to Korea, and that the revision would be a strong policy base for the tourism industry, which he called a national growth strategy industry and a breakthrough for regional decline. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The revision follows an April change to the Framework Act on Tourism that moved the chair from the prime minister to the president. The ministry and the minister say it aims to strengthen coordination between ministries and cooperation with private experts and local governments.
Key facts
- The Cabinet meeting on 20 October approved a full revision of the rules on the composition and operation of the National Tourism Strategy Council, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The revised rules take effect on the 29th. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Trade and Industry Ministry and the Employment and Labor Ministry are added, so ministers of 15 ministries take part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The senior presidential secretary for tourism policy joins the council, while the head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination is removed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The council's secretary role moves from the ministry's second vice minister to the minister. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The vice-ministerial coordination meeting becomes a working-level coordination meeting chaired by the presidential senior secretary for tourism policy. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- An advisory panel of up to 20 experts can be formed, with members appointed by the culture minister for one-year terms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The revision follows the April amendment of the Framework Act on Tourism, which changed the council's chair from the prime minister to the president. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Trade and Industry Ministry, which handles the exhibition industry linked to MICE tourism, and the Employment and Labor Ministry, which handles tourism workforce training and jobs policy, are added to the council. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A Regional Tourism Promotion Council chaired by the ministry's second vice minister, with deputy heads of regional governments as members, collects local views on items for the council's agenda. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The council's remit now explicitly includes drawing up the tourism promotion plan and evaluating and reflecting its results. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the council will always meet twice a year. ZDNet Korea reported that the chair can adjust the timing of meetings if needed; Asia Economy described twice-yearly meetings as the principle; other outlets did not mention the schedule.
- Whether the advisory panel and the regional council will be set up. Yonhap and ZDNet Korea said the rules allow them to be formed or established; no document says when or whether they will be.