Korea-China Tourism Research Institutes Meet in Beijing... Discuss Boosting Tourist Spending and Fostering New Industries

Korea Culture & Tourism Institute and China Tourism Academy Hold 13th Tourism Cooperation Seminar
Presentations Cover Local Spending by Inbound Tourists to Korea and Spillover Effects of Shopping Tourism in China
Industry Players, Including DiDi and Yili Group, Take Part; Seek Cooperation on AI and Digital Tourism

Tourism policy research institutes in Korea and China discussed ways to cooperate on innovation in the tourism industry and boosting spending by international visitors. Researchers from both countries, along with Chinese mobility and food companies and Korea's tourism industry, also took part, sharing new tourism business models such as digital transportation services and industrial tourism.

Officials from both countries’ tourism sectors, including the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute and the China Tourism Academy, pose for a commemorative photo at the 13th Korea-China Tourism Cooperation Seminar held in Beijing on the 12th. The seminar addressed ways to innovate the tourism industry, boost spending by international visitors, and advance the industry using AI and digital technologies.

Korea Culture & Tourism Institute

The Korea Culture & Tourism Institute said it held the 13th Korea-China Tourism Cooperation Seminar jointly with the China Tourism Academy in Beijing, China, on the 12th.

The seminar was held under the theme "Tourism Industry Innovation and Policy Support." Officials from government-funded research institutes and industry in both countries discussed ways to innovate the tourism industry using artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, foster convergence tourism industries, and boost spending by international visitors.

On the Korean side, Song Suyeop, a research fellow at the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, presented on "Trends in New Tourism Industries and Policy Responses." Research fellow Kang Jisu examined the effects of local spending by foreign tourists in a presentation titled "Analysis of the Effects of Local Spending by Inbound Tourists to Korea."

On the Chinese side, researcher Cui Xin of the China Tourism Academy presented on "Fostering Inland Water Tourism in China and Policy Support," while researcher Ma Xiaofen presented on "The Spatial Spillover Effects and Transformation Mechanisms of Inbound Shopping Spending." Key topics included linking tourist spending to local economies and developing new tourism resources into industries.

Examples of businesses operating in the industry were also presented. Wang Yali, who oversees overseas mobility business operations at Chinese ride-hailing platform DiDi, presented examples of using digital transportation services to promote tourism exchanges between Korea and China. Huang Cheng, who oversees the cultural tourism channel at Chinese food company Yili Group, shared examples of industrial tourism that uses the company's production facilities and brands as tourism resources.

A discussion followed the presentations, with officials from Shilla Duty Free and Jeju Air among the participants. Attendees exchanged views on changing tourism demand between Korea and China, the digital transformation of the tourism industry, and policy directions to support growth in tourism spending.

"Both institutions share the task of responding to changing tourism demand between Korea and China and supporting the sustained growth of the tourism industry through policy research to foster convergence tourism industries and boost tourist spending," said Hwang Gyoik, president of the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute. "We will continue joint research and exchanges so that the research cooperation, now in its 13th year, can lead to expanded tourism exchanges and policy development."

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