Busan City to Host Tourism Industry Briefing Session

Busan City is taking proactive steps to revitalize its tourism industry, inviting representatives and officials of the metropolitan tourism industry, including the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to the 'Busan Tourism Industry Briefing Session' at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.

The session, hosted by Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon, is the first of its kind since the mayor's inauguration and is seen as a strong indicator of the city's commitment to making tourism a key industry for its future growth.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism(MCST) has declared 2023 as the "Year of Tourism" and is promoting the country as the "Year of Visiting Korea" for foreign tourists. Busan is taking advantage of this opportunity to promote its unique tourist attractions, cultural heritage, and innovative tourism products.

During the session, the city will showcase the Busan Tourism Brand and its slogan "Busan, a city where you want to play, work, and live". Busan's reputation as a city with a focus on globally recognized cultural attractions and intellectual property(IP), including popular destinations like Pink Fong Baby Shark, Artemuseum, and 9.81 Park, will also be emphasized.

In addition, Busan City will provide the latest information on its thematic tourist spots, restaurants, and accommodation facilities, as well as its incentive projects to support the tourism industry. The city also plans to network with the tourism industry in the metropolitan area to jointly develop and promote tourism products.

With the 2030 Busan World Expo on the horizon, the city sees the event as a potential catalyst for growth in its tourism industry. The expo will include field inspections in April and a final selection of the venue in November, and Busan is seeking support from the tourism industry and overseas tourism agencies in attendance.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun declared, "We are committed to strengthening our relationship with the tourism industry through regular Busan tourism briefings. Busan is not only a city with a wealth of attractions, but also a hub of culinary excellence. Our goal is to establish Busan as a world-renowned international tourism destination."

Editor's comment

"Understanding Intellectual Property in Tourism"

Intellectual property (IP) encompasses the creations of the mind such as inventions, literary and artistic works, logos, names, and designs used in commerce. IP is crucial for modern society, fostering innovation, creativity, and economic growth. Legal rights protect IP, granting owners exclusive usage rights and benefits from their works.

In the tourism industry, IP plays a significant role by safeguarding and promoting the distinct cultural assets, brands, and experiences that attract visitors. IP encompasses trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets and can be used to protect and advertise a variety of tourism products and services, such as destinations, attractions, hotels, restaurants, and cultural events. By investing in IP, cities, destinations, and businesses in the tourism industry can differentiate themselves, gain a competitive edge, and attract more tourists, leading to sustainable tourism development.