Toward 2 Million Marina Users... Comprehensive Industry Plan Launched

Gradual Introduction of Marina Vessel History Management System
Easing Regulations on Private Development to Stimulate Investment

The government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to revitalize the marina industry and marine tourism, focusing on improving management systems, expanding private investment, and strengthening the competitiveness of the vessel and equipment industries. The plan aims to foster marinas as stay-type tourism resources linked to regional tourism, in response to growing domestic demand for marine leisure.

On June 19, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced the "Demand-Oriented Marina Revitalization Plan" at the Economic Ministers' Meeting. A marina refers to a complex marine leisure space equipped with berthing and storage facilities for yachts and boats, as well as related services.

The Ministry explained that while the overseas marina tourism market is growing rapidly due to increasing demand for nature-friendly outdoor activities, the domestic market still has significant room for growth in terms of industry maturity and culture, which led to the development of this plan.

The government will first systematize the marina management framework. It will integrate the management of marina facilities nationwide and apply uniform safety management standards. Additionally, the government will gradually introduce a "history management system" that assigns unique identification numbers to marina vessels. Through this, changes in ownership, maintenance, and accident history will be systematically managed to prevent unauthorized abandonment and dereliction of vessels, and to lay the groundwork for a more active used vessel market.

The government will also promote infrastructure expansion and the revitalization of private investment. It plans to complete six ongoing hub-type marina port projects as soon as possible, and to expand the training of specialists and support for startups, centered around the "Marina Business Center," which supports vessel manufacturing, maintenance, and sales brokerage functions. In addition, for private development projects outside designated marina port zones, the government will improve regulations by streamlining preliminary procedures to shorten project timelines.

Efforts will be made to strengthen the competitiveness of the marina industry. The government plans to support vessel and equipment exports by operating a Korea pavilion at major international yacht exhibitions and expanding the participation of domestic companies. It also aims to enhance the global competitiveness of domestic companies by expanding R&D and technology transfer related to eco-friendly and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered marina vessels.

The diversification of tourism content will also be pursued. The Ministry will expand existing sightseeing-focused marina tourism products into stay-type and experiential offerings and develop tourism programs that link regional festivals and cultural assets. Through pilot projects involving local governments and industry, regional brands will be fostered, and a "Marina You Want to Visit" (tentative name) will be selected and promoted as part of efforts to popularize marinas. Marine tourism content linking islands and fishing villages will also be expanded.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries set goals to increase the number of marina users from 1.6 million last year to 2.1 million by 2030, and to double the export volume of marina vessels and equipment from 16 million dollars to 32 million dollars.

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jongwoo said, "We will strive to innovate marina-related systems and develop new policies," adding, "We aim to enhance the value of the sea not only as the foundation of our economy and livelihoods, but also as a space that provides relaxation and healing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.