3.5
Measures to Facilitate Tourism into Knowledge-Based Industry
한국 관광산업의 활성화와 지식산업화 방안
Won-Bae Kim, Young-Sub Kwon, Tae-Seong Seo, Jin-Chul Park, and In-Sook Jung 1999. 9·139 pages·Korean
Background and Purpose
The Korean tourism industry has many strengths; various four season resources, geographical proximity to China and Japan, newly opened Incheon International Airport, and shopping advantages. However, it has also weaknesses. Korea lacks in natural resources, infrastructural links and multi-country tour programs.
Korea-China-Japan can only be connected either by air or sea because North Korea and Korea Strait lay between the countries. Other problems are the lack of information about potential tourist destinations, high price and tax, language problems, complicate procedure in entry and departure, the underdeveloped tourism industry and security.
Some potentials of the Korean tourism industry are: new tourism markets that remain unexploited, the development of packaged tourism products around China and Japan, growing foreign investment to the tourism industry, the change of social structure, the mood for the promotion of the tourism industry in the national level, the development of information technology and technological innovation such as computerized booking system, development of communication, internet and jumbo jet airplanes.
There are, however, many obstacles hindering the growth of the Korean tourism industry. Political stability is important to the tourism industry. The greatest factor in determining the future of Korean tourism industry will be the relationship between North and South Korea. Foreign exchange rate is not stable.
East Asian countries strive to construct or expand airports to attract tourists.
This study touches upon the problems of the Korean tourism industry and tries to devise appropriate measures to solve them. This paper suggests some policies to reinforce hardware and software infrastructures of the tourism industry such as theme parks, tourism geographical information systems, internet shopping malls, etc.
Conclusion and Policy Implications
Firstly, to increase the value-added of the tourism industry, it is necessary to support the convention industry, the enhancement of the brand names of Korean products, and the construction of theme parks with high technologies.
Secondly, to build networks in the tourism industry using state-of-the-art information technologies, it is also necessary to establish internet travel agencies and shopping malls, to promote noted places, masters or experts and fine articles, and to build a network system among cities, institutions, companies and nations. The development of Cyber packaged tourism products can be also considered.
Thirdly, to meet the international standards for the service sector, language barrier should be eliminated, geographical information system be built and a tourism information quality assement system to be introduced.
However, enhancing the competitiveness of the tourism industry can not be achieved without consorted efforts between central and local governments, firms and residents. The governments need to build infrastructure, and to support financial and legal affairs. Firms can strengthen their competitiveness through not only investment in information technology and management techniques but also investment in worker’s training. Voluntary participation of residents in tourism industry will give tourists good impressions. All parties involoved in the tourism industry such as central and local governments, companies, NGOs or citizens should cooperate with one another to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry.
