Gangwon State, EATOF Member Governments Adopt Joint Declaration on Sustainable Tourism

【Financial News Chuncheon=Reporter Kim Ki-seop】Gangwon State has adopted a joint declaration on sustainable international tourism cooperation with local governments in East Asia.
According to Gangwon State on the 4th, it reached a final agreement on the joint declaration on the 3rd at a meeting of provincial governors and mayors with delegations from EATOF member countries attending the 19th EATOF detailed general assembly and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). Through the agreement, the participating countries established a new milestone for global cultural and tourism exchanges and sustainable shared development.
The joint declaration contains five areas: designating local green destinations that preserve eco-friendly natural and cultural heritage and practicing carbon neutrality; promoting high-value local-content tourism by developing PATA-certified convergence products featuring gastronomy, traditional culture and festivals; advancing glocal tourism models through cooperation among local governments, universities and industry while nurturing young talent; creating an AI-based smart travel environment closely connected to local communities for exchanges without language barriers; and establishing a safe-tourism network for cooperation among member governments during disasters and crises.
On the 2nd, the first day of the general assembly, an opening ceremony was held with the participation of prominent figures from Korea and abroad and delegations from member countries. The event began with cultural performances, including a drum performance by governors and mayors. At the international symposium that followed, experts from various countries presented and discussed strategies for sustainable regional tourism and cultural development. Bilateral meetings in the afternoon featured one-on-one discussions to share regional issues and identify practical cooperation projects. At the standing committee meeting on the morning of the 3rd, the participants conducted a final review of and reached agreement on the joint declaration, reflecting the views of each country.
Shin Won-cheol, vice governor for economic affairs of Gangwon State, said, "The declaration includes tasks that member countries can implement together, such as creating an AI-powered smart travel environment without language barriers." He added, "Building on our close cooperation network, we will work to revitalize the regional economy and strengthen global tourism competitiveness."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter