"Connecting the Region and the World" Gangwon State Pursues Tourism Diplomacy at EATOF General Assembly in Cebu

[Financial News, Chuncheon = Kim Gi-seop] Gangwon State will take part in the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Federation (EATOF) General Assembly in Cebu, the Philippines, and present a new vision for tourism cooperation that connects the region and the world.
According to Gangwon State on the 1st, Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Shin Won-cheol will attend the 19th EATOF General Assembly, which runs from the 2nd to the 4th in Cebu, and lead tourism diplomacy under the theme, "A New EATOF Connecting the Region and the World." The gathering will bring together about 300 participants, including governors and provincial leaders from eight local governments such as Gangwon State, Cebu Province in the Philippines, Quang Ninh Province in Vietnam, Sarawak State in Malaysia, Luang Prabang Province in Laos, Siem Reap Province in Cambodia, Tottori Prefecture in Japan, and Tuv Province in Mongolia, as well as representatives from international organizations including the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the tourism industry, and the media.
The assembly will proceed in the order of an opening ceremony, academic symposium, bilateral meetings, standing committee sessions, and a governors' meeting. At the summit, which will be attended by the eight member local governments and PATA, participants will discuss ways to expand tourism exchanges and joint promotions, and adopt a joint declaration to boost tourism in East Asia. During the symposium, international tourism organizations and experts will share the latest tourism trends and highlight global marketing and sustainable tourism models that make use of local resources.
Gangwon State will operate a promotional booth during the event to showcase the appeal of its tourism offerings, including visa-free access through Yangyang International Airport, the 2026 ITS World Congress in Gangneung, wellness, and Korean Wave content. In his keynote speech at the governors' meeting, Vice Governor Shin will propose three action items to the member local governments: jointly building a smart tourism ecosystem based on artificial intelligence and information and communications technology, strengthening tourism data sharing and joint marketing, and expanding digital talent development and public-private cooperation networks.
EATOF is the only tourism cooperation body among local governments in East Asia, founded in 2000 under the leadership of Gangwon State with the goal of building a single tourism zone in the region. As the chair city hosting the secretariat, Gangwon State has led efforts to share international tourism trends, nurture future tourism talent, and respond jointly to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now in its 19th year, the federation is being reshaped with a stronger focus on practical benefits. At this year's general assembly in Cebu, Gangwon State will take over as the next host and continue its role as chair city.
"Gangwon State has served as the central hub for tourism cooperation in East Asia as the EATOF chair city," said Shin Won-cheol, vice governor for economic affairs of Gangwon State. "We will strengthen glocal tourism diplomacy that connects the region's attractive tourism resources with the world, and we will do our part to help East Asia emerge as a new center of the global tourism market."

[email protected] Kim Gi-seop Reporter