Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Strengthens Global Tourism Cooperation at TPO Forum, Building Momentum toward the Global City Tourism Summit in October

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it participated in the 10th TPO Forum, held in Taichung from September 16 to 18, strengthening global tourism cooperation in its capacity as TPO President City and exploring directions for sustainable urban tourism policy among member cities.

The forum, an urban tourism policy exchange event organized by the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO), was held under the theme “Sustainable Tourism City: Smart Tourism and Shared Value.”

Approximately 200 people participated in the event, including delegations from 27 cities and representatives from international organizations, academia, and the tourism industry. Policy sessions, city tourism policy briefings, business meetings, a tourism roadshow, and a MICE roundtable provided opportunities for exchanges between cities and the tourism industry.

As TPO President City, Busan Metropolitan City chaired the 47th Executive Committee and participated in the declaration of “Good Tourism,” a new shared vision for tourism.

At the Executive Committee meeting held on September 16, members deliberated and approved major agenda items, including the 2027 business plan and the admission of new members. Dong-gu District, Busan, was among the newly admitted members, further expanding the foundation for international tourism exchanges in the Busan region.

At the opening ceremony on September 17, participating city delegations jointly declared TPO’s new shared tourism vision, “Good Tourism.” Centered on five pillars—local economic circulation, residents’ quality of life and social carrying capacity, regenerative environmental management, cultural authenticity and conservation, and good governance—Good Tourism presents a policy direction aimed at ensuring that the benefits of tourism are distributed broadly across cities and local communities.

Busan Metropolitan City also participated in artificial intelligence (AI)-based tourism policy consulting and bilateral meetings with Kota Kinabalu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung to respond to changes in the tourism environment and expand exchanges among cities.

During the AI tourism policy consulting session, Busan assessed how the city is perceived as a tourism destination in generative AI search and recommendation services and sought advice on improving tourism information and developing appropriate marketing responses.

Busan also held bilateral meetings with major maritime cities, including Kota Kinabalu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, to discuss expanding practical tourism cooperation and exchanges, including the joint development of tourism content and opportunities for collaborative marketing.

Following the forum, Busan Metropolitan City and TPO will host the 2nd Global City Tourism Summit at Paradise Hotel Busan from October 26 to 28.

The summit will focus on local tourism and discuss ways to connect urban economic development with tourism innovation. City representatives, tourism experts, and industry stakeholders will share policy experiences and expand opportunities for cooperation through city-to-city meetings and business exchanges.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to provide a platform in Busan where cities from around the world can discuss the future of tourism and pursue practical cooperation.

Kang Da-eun, Secretary-General of TPO, said, “The forum provided an opportunity to examine together the value tourism brings to local economies and residents’ lives and to share the experiences of individual cities. Together with Busan, the TPO President City, and other member cities, we will work to incorporate Good Tourism into each city’s tourism policies.”

Na Yun-bin, Director-General of the Tourism and MICE Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “We will actively apply the policy cases and international networks shared at this forum to the development of tourism in Busan. At the 2nd Global City Tourism Summit to be held in Busan in October, we will also work with cities around the world to explore ways to translate the benefits of tourism into greater vitality for local economies and improvements in citizens’ quality of life.”