North Gyeongsang Province Achieves Remarkable Success with Two of Five Major Mega Tourism Zones (Gyeongju and Andong) Selected

[Financial News, Andong = Reporter Kim Jang-wook] North Gyeongsang Province is making all-out efforts to secure a massive super-regional tourism consumption zone encompassing Daegu and the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region.
Two tourism zones applied for by North Gyeongsang Province in the 'Project to Develop Five Major Tourism Zones Centered on Local Airports (Mega Tourism Zones)' promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) have been finally selected.
With both the Gimhae International Airport Zone (Busan–Gyeongju–Ulsan–Geoje–Tongyeong) and the Daegu Airport tourism zone (Daegu–Andong–Gyeongju) included, Gyeongju has become the only city in the country to be designated for multiple zones.
With this selection, North Gyeongsang Province has laid the foundation to leap forward as a second hub in an inbound tourism structure concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, and has secured a super-regional mega-tourism consumption zone encompassing Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang Province, transcending the limitations of existing tourism at the single-province, city, or county level.
Park Chan-woo, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, emphasized, "The simultaneous selection of two mega tourism zones among the five major zones will serve as an opportunity for North Gyeongsang Province to advance as a second hub for inbound tourism in a market currently concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area." He added, "Moving forward, based on the province's unique UNESCO heritage, K-culture, and specialized tourism resources, we will complete Korea's representative tourism Golden Route that attracts the most visitors from around the world and achieve results that expand it throughout the entire province."
Gyeongju City is expected to establish itself as Korea's representative global tourism hub by simultaneously accommodating inbound visitors from the southeastern maritime region via Gimhae Airport and those entering inland via Daegu Airport, having secured a mega tourism zone following its selection as a global tourism special zone in July this year.
Andong City is expected to leap forward as a world-class tourist city, as this tourism zone support project is added to the heightened global recognition and tourism demand following the recent Korea-Japan summit.
Although Pohang City was excluded from this selection, it plans to hold discussions in the future to receive support for related projects as a cruise port when Pohang Yeongilman Port officially opens in 2028.
Lee Dong-jin, Director of the Tourism Policy Division, explained, "The selection of two tourism zones is the result of the province deliberating on tourism zone projects with the research institute and the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation since last year, and establishing a proactive cooperation system with Daegu and Busan."
Meanwhile, the province plans to cooperate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), and relevant local governments, including Daegu and Busan, in the second half of this year to establish a concrete mid- to long-term implementation plan for 2027 to 2030, and to focus on full-scale development of tourism zones starting next year.

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