The session aimed to showcase the southern coast's natural beauty and promote private tourism development. Attendees included Gyeongsangnam-do Governor Park Wan-soo, Provincial Council Vice Chairman Park In, and Invest Korea CEO Kim Tae-hyung, as well as representatives from major hotel and tourism companies such as Hyatt Hotels, China Dossen Group, and Indonesia Archipelago Group.
In his welcoming address, Governor Park Wan-soo emphasized the potential of the southern coast, stating, “Based on its natural environment, the southern coast will leap forward as the hope of the Republic of Korea and the center of tourism in East Asia.” He expressed the hope that the event would pave the way for new investment strategies, fostering collaboration between businesses and regional growth. Governor Park also reiterated Gyeongsangnam-do’s commitment to improving accessibility to the southern coast and expanding investment incentives to attract further investment.
During the briefing, Governor Park signed investment agreements worth 201.2 billion won with three tourism companies, marking a significant step in the province's goal to create a global tourism hub and revitalize the industry.
Harbor City Co., Ltd. plans to transform idle land and commercial buildings near Masan Fish Market into a 30-room hotel and cultural space, investing 26.5 billion won and creating 30 new jobs. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the Masan Fish Market, which has suffered from recent department store closures.
Kumho Resort Co., Ltd. intends to develop the Donam-dong area into a marine leisure tourism center in partnership with Tongyeong City. The company plans to invest 140 billion won to construct and operate a high-end resort complex featuring approximately 200 rooms, generating 74 new jobs.
ITL Co., Ltd., an IT innovation firm, is embarking on a project to establish a unique space that merges technology with relaxation. It plans to invest 34.7 billion won to build a 26-room resort and a large café with 470 seats in Songjinpo-ri, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si, creating 38 new jobs.
Gyeongsangnam-do is actively seeking to bolster investments in the tourism sector, having increased investment in this area by 267% compared to the previous year, following a revision of relevant ordinances. The province plans to further enhance its incentive system for tourism development and eliminate unnecessary regulations to support tourism businesses effectively.
