Korea has announced plans to develop South Jeolla Province, Jeollanam-do, into a new destination for the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. Themed around the concept of “Creating Business through Rest, Relaxation and Recharging of Mind,” plans call for the area to become a retreat-style destination for the MICE industry.
South Jeolla Province is an area rich in natural features, including mountains, coastal areas and islands. The Korean MICE Bureau said that the destination is off-the-beaten track in terms of tourist traffic, although its city of Gwangju is home to one of the country’s main convention centers, the Kimdaejung Convention Center.
While there is a lack of large-scale MICE infrastructure such as convention centers and conference spaces, the province plans to attract a niche market of small- and medium-sized events by utilizing its local assets, including its rich natural ecology and historical and cultural resources.
As part of its efforts, Jeollanam-do selected five locations that showcase the province’s natural resources and wellness tourism offerings. The selected locations are sports and leisure-based Mokpo International Football Center, healing-based Gwangyang Baegunsan Recreational Forest, Gokseong Gangbit Village & Shim Cheong Hanok Village, Boseong Jeamsan Recreational Forest, and Glory International Retreat Center. The province also plans to expand its MICE infrastructure and develop and operate new experience contents for MICE groups.
"There are new opportunities in the MICE industry with growing interest in small- and medium-sized cities, as well as the ‘bleisure’ trend, which combines business and leisure,” said Kim Myung-Sin, Director of Tourism of Jeollanam-do, in a written statement.
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