Jointly opening up a new horizon for the tourism industry - Kim Dae-gwan, the director of the Korea Cultural Tourism Research Institute, delivered the closing speech at the "Seventh China-Korea Touris

On the afternoon of June 4, 2020, the "Seventh China-South Korea Tourism Cooperation Symposium" was held online jointly by the China Tourism Academy and the Korea Cultural Tourism Research Institute. The presidents of the two research institutes led their respective teams, along with representatives from the tourism industries of both countries and media reporters, to attend the event. The president of the Korea Cultural Tourism Research Institute, Kim Dae-gwan, delivered the closing speech. The full text is as follows:

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Director Dai Bin of the China Tourism Academy and the relevant staff for their tremendous efforts and support in organizing today's online symposium on China-South Korea international tourism cooperation!

We would also like to express our gratitude to the relevant staff of the Korea Institute of Culture and Tourism, as well as to all the speakers and the guests present at today's meeting. We sincerely thank you all!

With the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic and international tourism demand is rapidly declining. The rapid contraction of the tourism market has directly hit the tourism industry, accommodation industry and other tourism-related sectors.

However, once the epidemic is over, the long-suppressed domestic and international tourism demand will experience a sudden surge. To facilitate the rapid recovery of the tourism industry, it is necessary to study the changes and impacts of the tourism environment in the post-pandemic era, and to strategically respond to the development in this post-pandemic period.

Due to the impact of the epidemic, non-contact consumption methods have become more widespread, and there will also be new changes in tourism methods and tourism consumption tendencies.

First, the trend of personalization and small-scaleization in tourism will accelerate. In both domestic and international tourism, small-scale travel and individual travel methods will become even more popular.

Secondly, safety and hygiene will become important factors in choosing scenic spots and tourism facilities. When tourists select domestic or international tourist destinations or facilities, hygiene, safety, cleanliness, etc. will receive greater attention than before the pandemic.

Thirdly, destinations with relatively lower popularity will start to receive attention. Apart from those well-known or highly popular tourist attractions, the less popular tourist destinations in the past are expected to receive more attention.

Fourth, the tourism demand during the off-season will increase. Apart from the peak tourist season, the demand for tourism will also rise during the off-season when travel activities are relatively low.

Fifth, the demand for non-contact tourism services will increase. In the tourism service sector, with the development of high technology, the demand for non-contact service methods is expected to rise.

In order to open up a new situation for the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era, we need to build a healthy tourism ecosystem with strong crisis response capabilities. To enhance the sustainable development of the tourism industry and the competitiveness of tourism enterprises, it is urgent to cultivate outstanding tourism talents. To improve the ability to respond to tourism crises or shocks, it is necessary to strengthen the construction of institutional foundations and related statistical and database foundations. To form a healthy tourism industry ecosystem, it is necessary for the industry, government, research, and educational institutions to establish a cooperation network and enhance the flexible cooperation basis.

China and South Korea will be the two countries to completely overcome the pandemic the fastest. We hope that after the pandemic ends, we can expand mutual visits and exchanges at the international assistance level, and make substantive contributions to the development of tourism industries in both countries.

We expect that China and South Korea will pool their strength, wisdom and experience to jointly take the lead and open up new horizons for the tourism industry!

We look forward to further enhancing the exchanges between China and South Korea, and jointly pursuing a prosperous and bright future!

We look forward to the happiness of the people of China and South Korea, and the joint development of the two countries, creating a sustainable future together!

Let's stand together and support each other, and work as a team through thick and thin! Thank you!