The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, announced on the 31st that they have selected 45 community businesses from 21 regions as beneficiaries of the 2025 Tourism Village Project. The “Tourism Village” initiative is a policy project that supports local residents in independently establishing and managing tourism-related businesses in areas such as experience, food, souvenirs, travel, and accommodation, highlighting the unique characteristics of their regions. This initiative began in 2013 and is currently nurturing 193 community businesses in 50 regions as of July.
The project held a call for applications from April 21 to May 22 this year, ultimately selecting 45 community businesses after conducting document evaluations, online education, on-site inspections, and final presentations. The selected businesses focus on various sectors, with “experience” being the most significant at 49%, followed by food (22%), souvenirs (18%), travel (7%), and accommodation (4%).
Additionally, 9 of the selected businesses are part of the “Youth Village,” where at least two-thirds of the members are under the age of 39. Furthermore, 28 businesses, accounting for 62% of the total, are located in 12 population-declining areas like Taebaek, Jeongeup, and Hamyang.
These newly selected businesses will receive tailored support, including education, field trips, consulting on business management, product and menu development, design, marketing, pilot projects, and legal and tax assistance, with funding up to 110 million won over a maximum of five years. Local Tourism Village PDs (regional activity experts) will closely assist these businesses to ensure planned and effective entrepreneurship and growth.
A Ministry spokesperson stated, “We will actively support the newly selected community businesses this year so that they can grow into regional representative brands through the Tourism Village initiative.”