Government designates global festivals to promote mud, masks, and riverside beauty in pursuit of 30…
The government of South Korea has selected three key festivals, namely the Boryeong Mud Festival, the Andong International Maskdance Festival, and the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival as this year’s designated “global festivals.” This decision comes as part of a larger initiative to attract foreign tourists under a program aimed at achieving the goal of 30 million inbound visitors to the country. These festivals were chosen by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization to be developed over the next three years to enhance tourism content and attract a larger number of visitors annually.
In addition to these main global festivals, the Daegu Chimac Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival, the Sunchang Fermented Food Festival, and the Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival were named “preliminary” global festivals. Each of these festivals offers a unique cultural experience and is expected to draw in tourists looking for a diverse range of activities and attractions.
The Boryeong Mud Festival, hosted at Daecheon Beach each summer, provides visitors with a hands-on mud experience that has made it one of Korea’s most popular summer festivals. On the other hand, the Andong International Maskdance Festival, typically held in late September to early October, showcases traditional mask dances and other cultural performances. The Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival, held in October along the Namgang River, features beautiful lantern displays and nighttime programs that captivate festival-goers.
The government’s support for these festivals includes financial aid of 800 million won ($540,300) per year for three years for each global festival and 250 million won per year for each preliminary global festival. This funding will be used for various improvements to enhance visitor experiences, such as new hands-on activities for foreign visitors, increased visitor convenience, and the implementation of a web-based festival management system to enhance services like crowd monitoring, parking analysis, and food-related payments.
Furthermore, the government plans to develop tourism products linked to the selected festivals to provide visitors with a comprehensive experience of Korean culture. By encouraging longer stays in the region, local governments will work with the Ministry to develop tourism packages that keep visitors engaged with the area after their festival visit.
In conclusion, the government’s selection of these global festivals aims to promote Korean culture and tourism to a broader international audience. By enhancing the festival experience, developing supporting tourism products, and encouraging longer stays in regional areas, South Korea hopes to attract more visitors and further establish itself as a global tourist destination.