MRE Foundation, Inc.

Marine Tourism Resource Development in Korea

Author(s): TIMOTHY TYRRELL, SUNG-GWI KIM and YOUNG-TAE CHANG
Source: Marine Resource Economics, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Summer 1999), pp. 165-174
Published by: The University of Chicago Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/42629260
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+.00
0738-1360/99
$3.00
1999
Marine
Resources
Foundation
Copyright

Volume
Marine
Resource
14,pp.165-174
Economics,
inthe
Allrights
reserved
Printed
U.S.A.

Thalassorama
Tourism

Marine

Resource

Development

in Korea

TYRRELL
University of Rhode Island

TIMOTHY

SUNG-GWI KIM
CHANG
YOUNG-TAE
Korea Maritime Institute
Introduction
The tourismindustryis the world's largest employer,accounting for 255 million jobs, or 10.7% of the global labor force in 1997 (World TourismOrganization 1998b). Growthover the past two decades has been rapid, and many new
destinationshave emerged to meet the demand. NortheastAsia has shown particularlystronggrowthin the recentpast until the currentfinancial crisis. Marine tourism is expected to play a major role in the rapidly growing naturebased travelindustry.
For a varietyof reasons, the marine tourismresources of Korea have been
underutilized.Domestic use of marine resources is historicallylow because of
culturaland economic factorsand climate problems. Internationalvisitorshave
not made greateruse of the coastal resources because of a national image probdifficulties.
lem and a lack of access and otherbasic tourisminfrastructure
Korea is now positioningitselfto take advantage of expected futuregrowth
in marine tourism.A strongcommitmentby the central governmentto promote
the tourism industryis aimed at capturing a much larger share of the world
tourism market as the Asian marketsbegin to recover from the currenteconomic crisis. Much of the investmentwill be solicited fromthe private sector
withthe supportfromthe public sector.
- preempKorea is also positioned to take advantage of anotheropportunity
tive marineenvironmentalplanningand policy implementation.Marine tourism
will be sustainable only if the underlyingresource is preserved.While the fishing industryis a strongforce in the country,thereare relativelyfew historical
claims on, or special interestsin, the nation's marine recreationalresources. A
strong central governmentcan facilitate enviable environmental protection
plans at a timebeforelarge privatedevelopers capturethe resources needed as a
sustainable base forthe tourismindustry.
andNatural
Resource
is a professor
intheDepartment
ofEnvironmental
Economics,
Timothy
Tyrrell
felKimis a research
RI02881,e-mail:
ofRhodeIsland,
Tim@uri.edu;
Sung-Gwi
Kingston,
University
lowat theKoreaMaritime
154-10Samsung-dong,
Seoul,Korea,e-mail:
Institute,
Kangnam-gu,
Marine
America
Joint
attheKoreaandYoung-Tae
Policy
Changis co-director
sgkim@suji.kmi.re.kr;
ofRhode
Research
Center,
Island,
RI,02881,e-mail:
ytchang@etal.uri.edu.
University
Kingston,
165

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166

, Kim, and Chang

Tyrrell

World Tourism
WorldMarket Shares
The top ten worldtourismdestinationsaccountedforalmost52% of the worldvolume of tourismflowsin 1997 (WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 3). Due in part
to its accessibility,Franceled all nationswith10.9% of international
touristarrivals.
The U.S. was second with8.0% of the market,followedby Spain (7.1%), and Italy
of touristmar(5.6%). The past five yearshave witnesseda gradualdiversification
kets withthe emergenceof new destinationssuch as China and Hong Kong SAR.
The Republicof Korea currently
attracts0.6% of all international
travelers.
The top ten recipientsof world tourismexpendituresearn 54% of the world's
tourismreceipts.The U.S. leads thiscategorywith16.9%, followedby Italy(6.8%),
France (6.3%), and Spain (6.1%). The republicof Korea currentlyearns 1.2% of
worldtourismreceipts(WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 4).
Growth
Recent data show a setbackin the growthrate of tourismactivityworldwide,with
touristarrivalsincreasingby only3% in 1997 and tourismreceiptsgrowingby only
2.3%. Asian tourismhas grownimpressively
overthepastyears,butstagnatedin 1997
due to financialmarketpressures.Northeastern
Asia, consistingof China,Hong Kong,
Japan,Korea D P Rp, Republicof Korea,Macao, Mongolia,and Taiwan,recordedits
smallestgrowthsince 1989, withincreasesof 0.7% in arrivalsand 1.2% in receipts.
While the Republic of Korea showed a 6.1% increasein touristarrivalsover 1996,
its tourismreceiptsdeclined4.2% (WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 11).
Accordingto theWorldTourismOrganization(WTO), "Luredby bargainprices,
touristswill be flockingto Asia in 1998, butthatsurgewill notoffsettravelindustry
losses caused by Asia's financialcrisis" (WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 1).
The 1997 increasein numbersof visitors,but decline in receiptsevidencedthis in
Korea. Further,the WTO predictsthat,"tourismin East Asia and the Pacific will
likely sufferforthreeyears due to the financialcrisis affectingmanycountriesof
the region"(WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 1). At a meetingof the WTO's
regionalcommissionforEast Asia and thePacific in February1998, theWTO SecretaryGeneral,Francesco Frangialli,said, "the good news is thatbeyondthe year
2000, the regionshouldrecoverthe strongupwardtrendwhichseems to typifythe
patternof its tourismdevelopment"(WorldTourismOrganization1998a, p. 1).
Korea's Tourism Industry
History
FollowingtheKoreanWar,whichtookplace from1950-53, SouthKorea was closed
to outboundand inboundtravelers.Gross domesticproductper capita was low, and
"littleattentionwas paid to travelor recreationby Korean nationals"(Kim and Kim
1996, p. 46). Since then,therehas been rapid economic growth,and an affluent
middleclass has emerged.The averagehouseholdincome soared fromUS$1,600 to
theeconomy
$12,000 between1985 and 1989, and double-digitinflationthreatened
(Ahn and Ahmed 1994, p. 89). In 1989, whenthegovernment
completelyeased outbound traveland more flightsbecame available, therewas a 67% increasein out-

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Thalassorama

167

bound travel over 1988 levels (Kim and Kim 1996, p. 46). Previously,overseas
pleasuretravelwas limitedto Koreans who were at least 50 yearsold. The governmentbecame alarmedat the resultingtravelspendingdeficitwiththe explosive increase in outboundtraveland began a frugality
campaignaimed at curbingoverseas
expenditures(Ahn and Ahmed1994, p. 87). A travelspendingsurpluswas generated
aftertheInternational
MonetaryFund crisisin 1997, butthedeficitreemergedin the
of
as
the
Koreaneconomyrecovered.
1999
beginning
TourismEvents and Image
Touristbehavioris criticallylinkedto touristperceptionsaboutcompetitivedestinations. It is truethatnegativeperceptionsof Korea in the past have includedharsh
winters,inferiorconsumergoods, highprices,and militaryconflictswithits northernneighbor(Chon and Shin 1990).
However,hostingthe 1988 Olympicsin Seoul and otherinternationalexhibitions has helped to overcomethese negativeimages and has led to permanentimin hospitality,
and communication
facilities.
provements
transportation,
The government
has takenaggressivesteps to promotethe nation's attractiveness to international
visitors.By declaring1994 "Visit Korea Year,"thegovernment
hoped to attract4.5 millionvisitors.It hostedthe PATAAnnual Conferencein that
same yearand plans are being made to hostthe 3rdASEM summitin 2000 and the
2002 FIFA WorldCup. The government
also has plans forthe InchonInternational
to
become
the
airline
hub
of
Northeast
Asia.
Airport
actionsmayhave backfired.The frugality
However,some government
campaign
aimed at domestictravelershas affectedinboundtouristsas well. A September1990
edict forcedentertainment
establishments
to close by midnight(except forthose on
Island
which
could
until
1:00 a.m.) and mandatedthathotels stop
Cheju
stayopen
toiletriesand close theirfitnesscentersone day a week
providingcomplimentary
restrictions
on theclosingtimesof en(Ahn and Ahmed1994, p. 88). More recently,
tertainment
facilitieswerelifted.
CurrentSituation
Touristscurrently
accountfor64% of totalvisitorsto Korea (1996). Octoberis thebusiestmonth,
followedbyMay,August,and November.Japanwas thelargestmarket(41%
in 1996),followedbytheU.S. (10.8%), andChina(5.4%). Touristsconstitute
thelargest
shareof Japanesevisitors(93%), buttheyconstitute
a smallershare(68%) of U.S. visiofCultureand Sports1998).
tors,andonly16% ofChinesevisitors(KoreaMinistry
RelationsbetweenJapanand Korea became normalizedin 1965, and Japanhas
accountedforapproximately
40% of totalarrivalsever since (Ahn and Ahmed1994,
p. 86). In 1992, diplomaticties were establishedbetweenKorea and China,but severed betweenKorea and Taiwan. The numberof visitorsfromChina has doubled
since 1992, while the numberof visitorsfromTaiwan (92% of whom are tourists)
has fallen(Korea Ministryof Cultureand Sports1998).
The numberof Koreanstakingoverseastripsincreasedfrom450,000 in 1986, to
4,650,000 in 1996. Touristshave been consistently
increasingas a percentageof the
totaloutboundtravelers,up to 50.5% in 1996 (Korea Ministryof Cultureand Sports
1998). Since July1, 1997, a 10,000 won dutyhas been imposedon Korean tourists
travelingoverseasby air and a 1,000 won dutyif travelingby sea. These go intothe
TourismPromotionand Developmentfund,which is used fortourisminformation

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, Kim, and Chang

Tyrrell

168

systems,developmentof local tourismresources,public relations,and education.

This fund,whichraised almost200 billionwon in 1996, is theonlyfinancialsource
fordevelopinglocal tourism.
Marine TourismResources
touristsfor
There is evidenceof increasingdemandfromdomesticand international
coastal and marineactivities.One obstacleto growthin thissectoris thatmostof the
andtourists
marine-related
sitessuffer
becauseresidents
do notfindthemeasyto reach.
The coastlineof Korea is about 12,000 km withover 3,150 islands offthewest
and southcoasts (Kim and Kim 1996, p. 47). Except fora few locations,the west
coast has limitedpotentialfordivingand otheractivitiesbecause of highturbidity
and shallowness,althoughlarge marineresortsare being plannedon land-filledareas near Inchonand Suwon. Also, thereis potentialfordevelopmentof the islands
offthewestcoast.
thesouthcoast
Due to its mildclimateand thehighqualitynaturalenvironment,
has potentialforboating,swimming,and othermarinetourismactivities.In fact,
manyareas, includingthe islands and adjacent water,are in marinenationalparks
marinepark). Cheju Island in the South Sea is a semitropicalvolcanic is(hereafter
land withthefamousHalla Mountain.It is attractiveto manyKoreansand Japanese
visitors.
The east coast is well suitedforsportfishingand scuba divingand is close to
and a steep slope
the famousSorak Mountain.However,highwaves, cool currents,
in thecoastal area restrict
its use forwatersports(Kim and Kim 1996, p. 48).
Domestic Marine Tourism
The developmentof a marinetourismindustryattractiveto domestictravelersfaces
a numberof otherobstacles. Not the least of theseis the culturalattitudeabout the
coast and the sea. BeforetheYi Dynasty(1392-1910), marineactivitieswere brisk,
and marinetradewas carriedout by conspicuousfiguressuch as Bo-Go Chang and
Gun Wang,the founderof the GoryoDynasty.Since theYi Dynasty,fishermenliving in thecoastal area belongedto thelowestclass- a class held in contemptby the
to invade coastal arnoble class. In addition,Japanesepirateshistoricallyattempted
in
their
eas forfood because of insufficient
agriculturalproduction
country.Hence,
orderedordinaryand noble people to live inland.In addition,many
the government
political exiles were sent to the coastal area or islands off the coast (Ju 1998).
Therefore,theKoreanpeople are apprehensiveaboutgoingto thesea.
Korean childrenare raised hearingthe saying,"Don't get near to a riveror a
have dependedheavilyon a Shamanwho
lake because you will drown."Forefathers
would say, "Don't get close to wateror you may die." Sayingsby familyand Shamans have had a strongnegative influence on Korean attitudesabout the sea
(Tyrrell,Kim, and Chang 1998).
A studyof 278 visitorsto five Korean destinations:Cheju Island, Kyong-ju,
Solak Mountain,Haeundae Beach, and Yusung hot spring,determinedthatsix attributesexplained57.9% of the choice of destination(H-B. Kim 1998). In orderof
importancetheyare: seasonal and culturalattractiveness(21.4%); clean, peaceful
and price (9.6%); quality of accommodationsand relaxingfacilities
environment,
amenitiesand safety(6.8%); accessibilityand reputation
(8.2%); family-oriented
and recreationalopportunities
(6.5%); and entertainment
(5.4%). Key wordsassociated withmarineresourcesand recreationwerenotamongthetop attributes.

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169

Despite thisculturalobstacle,thereis reasonto expectincreasedinterestin marinetourismattractions

to Koreans.Witheconomicgrowthand affluence,therehas
been new enthusiasmfortouractivities,such as skin scuba, windsurfing,
boating,
and fishing.Swimminghas been the mostpopularseaside activity,but is limitedto
summer.Diving and windsurfingare increasing in popularity.There are over
100,000 people who have receiveddive trainingand over 300,000 windsurfers
(S-G.
Kim 1998, p. 484). However,yachtingand watersportsusing importedleisure faand a special tax.
cilitiesand equipmentare stillrestricted
because of hightariffs
but access is veryinconMarineparksof the southare increasingin popularity,
venientcomparedwithterrestrial
parks.Marineparksconstituteabout a thirdof all
nationalparksin termsof size, but theyaccountforonly 13.0% of visitorsbecause
areas. On theotherhand,thegrowthrateof visiof theirisolationfrommetropolitan
torsto marineparksfrom1992 to 1997 (13.0%) increasedmuchfasterthanthatof
all nationalparks(3.7%) (S-G. Kim 1998, p. 486).
Cruisingis a formof tourismthatmay bridgethe culturalgap towardmarine
tourismand betweenthe Koreas. Recently,the HyundaiConglomeratein cooperation withNorthKorea, launchedthe Mt. Kumgangtourprogramusing threecruise
ships in theEast Sea. Mt. Kumgangis one of themostbeautifulmountainsin Asia.
During the daytime,visitorstourthe mountainvia a trainstartingfromJang-jun
Port near Mt. Kumkang,and at night,ships are used as accommodationfacilities.
a naval incidentin theYellow Sea and detentionof a South Korean
Unfortunately,
of
residenton one of the shipshas haltedtheoperation.1South Korean construction
inlandaccommodationsnearMt. Kumgangand a floatinghotelare plannedin order
to meetthedemand.But thesewill take 5-6 yearsto complete.So, if diplomaticrelationshipsare resolved,thecruisingprojectshouldflourishuntilthattime.
In Pusan, a 5,500-tonpassengership is being convertedto a floatinghotel,and
in Inchon,a new floatinghotelincludingguestrooms,aquarium,ocean spa, etc., is
of US$400 million(Archi'esse Co.
in the designingstage witha foreigninvestment
1992).
Two thousandpeople hold licenses to operaterecreationalfishingboats around
the fishingportsin Korea. These boats are verypopularbecause theyprovidenew
access to thewaters(Jo 1997, p. 31).
There is one small aquariumin Seoul. Otherlocal governmentshave triedto
build aquariumsin thepast,buthave been unableto carryout theprojectbecause of
lack of capital and technology.Recently,foreigninvestorshave come forward,and
severalaquariumsare beingplannedor are underconstruction.
Two inlandwaterparksare operatedin Korea, one in YonginEverland,thelargest themepark in Korea, and the otherat a timesharecondominiumnear Sorak
Mountain.Since Koreanshave limitedaccess to waterareas,thesefacilitiesare very
popularas safe recreationalfacilities.
International Marine Tourism
marinetourismfaces its own obstacles.Not only are theremanyother
International
travelersto choose from,butKoreantourcoastalresortsforinternational
competitive
ism industry
investorshave foundother,morelucrativedevelopment
projects,such as
funds(Lee and Kwan 1997).
casinos,thatwill competefortourisminvestment
1Theincident
in 1999.Thecruise
washalted
June
onJune
andthedetention
onJune
20th
occurred
15th
a US$9million
loss(Chosun
andas ofJuly
theHyundai
Merchant
Marine
estimated
21st,
5th,
Daily
News
, July
5, 1999,p.5).

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, Kim, and Chang

Tyrrell

The Korea NationalTourismOrganization(KNTO) conductedan opinionpoll to

findout whatinboundtouriststhinkof visitsto Korea in 1996. Amongcharacteristicsthatforeignvisitorsfoundthemostimpressiveor charming
aboutKorea werehisandtraditional
costumes.Mountoricalsites,followedby shoppingactivity,
handcrafts,
taintoursrankedfourth,
and islands(theonlymarine-related
item)came in tenth.
The International Role of Government in Tourism
In everynation,the centralgovernment
triesto achieve a delicate balance between
leadershipand control.The appropriatebalance is unique to each nation."In many
countrieslike the UnitedStates,the UnitedKingdomand Canada, the government
role actingas a facilitatorfortourismdevelplays a passive and low-keyregulatory
has become increasinglyinvolvedin touropment;whereasin Korea, government
even
investment
fromthe privatesector (H.B. Kim
ism, promotion,
encouraging
1998, p. 345).
The Korean government
has takena veryactiverole in developingthe nation's
tourismindustryby foundingthe KNTO and puttingit in chargeof major tourism
complexes.The foundingof theCheju TourismCorporationin 1980 has led to successful developmentof a major resorton the island. As of late 1996, 159 tourist
sites had been developed across the nation.As of June1997, therewere 451 hotels
offering47,108 rooms,and 100 touristhotels and 8 touristcomplexeswere under
construction
(Korea Ministryof Cultureand Sports1998, p. 29).
A five-yearplan,whichstartedin 1999 called "TourismVision 21," has goals of
level, developingunique tourexpandingthe tourismresourcesto the international
ism goods and social infrastructures
fora tourismcomplex,and promoting
new millenniumevents,such as theASEM conferencein 2000, "Visit Korea Year" in 2001,
and a WorldCup eventin 2002.
Promotionof the Korean tourismproducthas been aggressive.Traditionalculin Japanemtureis themainthemeof Korea's tourismpromotions.Advertisements
phasize the geologic and psychologicalcloseness of the two nations,underthe slogan "ExperienceKorea." In Europe and the U.S., the ads have been targetedmore
towardthe elderly(Korea Ministryof Cultureand Sports 1998, p. 17). President
Kim,himself,appearedin thetradeads made forforeigners.
One of thefivemajornationalpolicies in thisadministration
is thepromotionof
tourismand culture.In this vein, the Presidentalso asked to increase next year's
tourismbudget,while cuttingotherbudgetitems.He has spokenof the importance
of tourism,especially marinetourism,so he orderedthe Ministryof Cultureand
Tourismto systematically
develop the South Coast TourismBelt using its beautiful
national
marine
scenery,
parks, and the islands in the South Sea as a national
project.This projectis underwayby domesticand foreignconsultingcompaniesincludingNomuraConsultingCo. in Japan,the Korea MaritimeInstitute(KMI), etc.
This plan will emphasizethe developmentof core tourismcomplexes,the linkage
betweencomplexes,the enhancementof Social Overhead Capital (SOC), and the
policies fortheinducementof domesticand foreigninvestment.
The KNTO has strengthened
its promotionalactivitiesin SoutheastAsia, specificallyHong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore,and Thailand,throughski toureventsand
otherhigh value-addedtourpackages includinggolf and shopping(Korea Ministry
of Cultureand Sports 1998). In orderto take advantageof the enormouspotential
marketin China,thegovernment
has implemented
severalmeasures,such as simpler
customsprocedures,a Korea-Chinaconsultationbody, and a duty-freeagreement
forvisitorsto Cheju Island.
Korea has signed a tourismagreementwith China to eliminatevisa require-

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Thalassorama

171

mentsbetweenthe two countries,so it was expectedthattherewould be an explosive increaseof Chinese visitorsto Korea, especiallyto Cheju Island. However,due
restrictions
on its citizensto visitforeigncountries,the into Chinese government
crease is not as large as was expected.Cheju Island, famousto the Chinese forits
beautifulscenery,is stillexpectedto see a considerableincreasein Chinese visitors
in thenearfuture.
free
is preparingto declare Cheju as an international
The Korean government
zone to replace thefunctionof Hong Kong and Macau as theyreturnto China (Korea ResearchInstituteforHumanSettlements1998). Most scholarsagree thatCheju
mustfurtherdevelop its internationaltourismattractionsbeforethis can happen.
Othergovernment
organizationalactivitiesare also notable.The Korea TourismResearch Institute(KTRI) was establishedin April 1996 to assist the governmentin
formingtourismpolicies, to conductin-depthstudieson problemsrelatedto tourThe Ministryof Transism,and to proposethedevelopmentof thetourismindustry.
In
a
for
assistance."
formed
"fund
addition,the Ministry
tourism-industry
portation
of Maritimeand Fisheries(MOMAF), also establishedin 1996, is supportingtourism plans forfishingvillages as mentionedabove.
The Regional Development Role of Government in Tourism
Since 1994, when local gubernatorialelections were held for the firsttime in
Korea, regional development became a major goal of local leadership. They
have been seeking domestic and internationalinvestmentin manufacturingand
tourismindustries.
Locally promotedmarineresortdevelopmentsseem to be booming. Most of
the provinces such as Cheju, Inchon, and Kyonggi are planninglarge marineresort complexes which include aquariums, water parks, marinas, fishing piers,
resorthotels, and shoppingcenters.
The National TourismPolicy has adopted a national themefor regional development,"to create a climate to enrichpatriotismthroughmore leisure time.
Regional developmentthatencourages and preservesnational heritagesand the
environmentfurthersthis goal." This policy has been implementedby the creation of the Tourism Promotionand Development fund,which is used for tourism informationsystems,developmentof local tourismresources, public relations, and education. In addition,the second five-yearNational TourismDevelopment Plan (1997-2001) was prepared by each city and province and confirmedby the TourismPolicy Council in June1997.
The Professional Congress Organizers became an integralpart of the tourism industryin 1986, as stipulatedin the revised TourismPromotionLaw. Also,
the governmentimplementedthe Law on the Promotionof InternationalConvention Industry on March 31, 1997 (Korea Ministry of Culture and Sports
1998, pp. 18, 32). This law stipulates size and use of convention facilities,
gives prioritysupportto conventioncities, and streamlinesissuing of permits.
The firstconvention complex for ASEM 2000 in Seoul and large convention
halls in Cheju and the Kyonggi Province are under constructionor planned,
which will be new milestonesforthe conventionindustryin Korea.
Nongovernmentalorganizationsare arrangingeco-tourismprogramsto utilize the ecosystem in the coastal area, especially on the tidal flats on the west
coast. Some local governments,such as Inchon and a county in the Chonnam
Province, are planningeco-parks using the tidal flats. Wetland and sea education centers,museums,experimentalsalt ponds, trainingcamps, and aquariums
are included in these plans.

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, Kim, and Chang

Tyrrell

In addition, MOMAF is planning to promote fishingvillage tours for the

public as unique natural and culturalexperiences. Local governmentsproposed
fifteenvillages as potential sites; five will be selected and subsidized by the
governmentfor developmentof tourismSOC in each village. In addition, these
selected villages will be linked to a travel agency that is designated to advertise, arrangethe tourprogram,and link the villages to tourists.A new village is
planned by MOMAF for each of the next five years, from 1999 until 2004
(MOMAF 1999a, p. 3).
MOMAF is also creating a national plan to promote marine tourism
throughoutKorea. It will be the firstof its kind and includes a surveyof marine
tourismresources,a marketdemand study,differentiated
developmentplans determinedby characteristicsof each region,identificationof roles forpublic and
private sectors, and developmentof a legal systemto promoteand supportmarine leisure activities.
MOMAF is supportingconstructionof five maritimemuseums and a few
fishingcommunityexhibitioncentersin regional areas to promoteand publicize
ocean developmentand culture.Based on the subsidies forthese facilities,local
governmentsare planning larger coastal resortcomplexes using private investment. These include aquariums, water parks, marinas, and hotels. Therefore,
this project is viewed as a steppingstone forfurtherdevelopmentof marineresortsin each region.
Recently, a proposal for Ocean Exposition in 2010 was prepared by the
Chonnam Province with supportfromthe Ministryof Maritimeand Fishery.It
was accepted as a national project in June 1999, and Yosu City was chosen as
the intended site. Yosu City currentlyhosts chemical and steel-makingindustriesand a portforcontainerships, tankers,and fishingboats. The national proposal to the Bureau of InternationalExhibitions will be submittednext year. It
is expected that this project will arouse public concern about ocean development and become a good opportunityto promotemarine tourism.If the bid is
successful,the EXPO will have a major economic impact on South Cholla Province, approximatelyUS$9 billion in value added to the entire existing South
Korean tourismindustryof US$10 billion (KNTO) (Chang and Cho 1999). Obviously, therewill be major environmentalissues associated with the event, including the potential for alteringlong-termsustainabilityfromreuse of the facilities.
The Role of Government in Natural Resource Protection
As mentionedabove, to integratetourismand the environment,the Ministryof
Culture and Tourism has been charged with settingup the plan of the South
Coastal TourismBelt, the firstof its kind in Korea.
With the execution of the Coastal Management Law of December 1998,
most coastal tourismdevelopmentswill be screened by the MOMAF. An IntegratedCoastal Management(hereafterICM) plan is being set up at the national
level. Therefore,MOMAF's long-termmarinetourismplan will be harmonized
withthe ICM plan.
At the beginningof 1999, MOMAF conducted its firstformalreview of a
coastal resortdevelopmentunder the new ICM act. The new coastal resortwas
proposed for the east coast which would reclaim a public beach for the constructionof a privateresortfacility.MOMAF's review committeerejected it be-

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Thalassorama

173

cause the resortwould likely harmthe ecosystemand scenic view of the beach,
and it could limit public use of the beach due to a large private investment
(MOMAF 1999b, p. 273).
Observations
Marine tourismdevelopmentis a double-edged sword. On a forwardswing, the
firstedge means a substantialincrease in visitorsto the coastline, enabling expansion of businesses and creationof jobs in an economy strugglingout of a serious economic slump. On the back swing, the other edge means a substantial
increase in the pressure on a fragile marine environment that has been
underutilizeduntilthe recentpast.
Promotion of domestic marine tourism is expected to be very successful
with an increasingnumberof Koreans able to affordcoastal holidays. The cultural sentimentsagainst ocean recreation are changing, and more people are
participatingin marinesports. Internationaltourismpromotionis also expected
to be successful due to an increasing Chinese and Japanese market and new
governmentpolicies.
The Korean and local governmentshave become extremelysupportive of
marine tourism. The ultimate example is the proposed EXPO 2010 that will
nearly double the size of the nation's tourism industry.While environmental
oversightand guidance have never been stronger,the nation is enteringa new
era of coastal developmentand the impacts will be large. A new effortto manage resources and balance the economic gains with environmentalcosts will be
needed.
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