To attract more inbound tourists, the government has decided to develop high-end tourism content, making the most of historical and cultural relics, natural and ecological resources, and cultural and artistic products. It will also turn five major palaces in Seoul into world-class tourist attractions after refurbishing them as historical and cultural sites open to the public.

At its ninth session chaired by President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 12, the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness (PCNC) reached decisions on policies to "enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry" and "reform the operating system of public organizations." 

During the session, President Lee said, "This will probably be the last session for this year. At a time when the entire world is in an unprecedented economic crisis, I think we should do something beyond doing our best to overcome the crisis. Every crisis has its end. We should be preparing what Korea should do in the new world order that arises after we overcome this crisis. We should do something that would enhance our national status." 

Development of high-end tourism content 

As ways to increase the competitiveness of the tourism industry, the presidential council suggested to the President how to develop uniquely Korean-style high-end tourism content, using historical and cultural artifacts, natural and ecological resources, and cultural and artistic products; create a fresh image of Korea as a tourist destination characterized by kindness, safety, and comfort; carry out strategic development of the inbound tourism market; and enhance the competitiveness of the tourism services industry.

In this regard, the government has decided to make the most of Korea''s history and culture, including Seoul''s five major palaces, religion and customs, as key tourism resources. 

Specifically, the government will open previously prohibited areas, such as Geoncheongung and Taewonjeon buildings in Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace), Gyujanggak (Joseon''s royal library) in Changdeokgung (Changdeok Palace), and Gwandeokjeong pavilion in Changgyeonggung (Changgyeong Palace) to the public. It will allow tourists to visit all five palaces with a single admission ticket and to access information on the palaces using PDAs.  

The government will also expand green tourism resources, while turning the 700-hectare landfill area in Incheon into a world-class ecological tourism attraction featuring four themes -- waste, bioengineering, natural energies, and environment-friendly culture. 

The government will develop tourism resources in downtown Seoul areas by making Myeong-dong, Insa-dong, Samcheong-dong, the Hongdae (Hongik University) area, and the COEX area "special tourism streets" showcasing performances, food, and souvenirs. It will also push strategically for ways to attract more foreign tourists to receive better medical services for "medical tourism" and attend conventions and exhibitions of various kinds. 

Need to check public agencies'' functions regularly

Under the reform plan for the operation of public organizations, the government will check their functions regularly, say every three to five years, with a view to either privatizing them or enhancing their efficiency. It will conduct performance evaluations in a way that will suit each public organization''s nature and characteristics. 

The government will allow each supervising government agency to have the authority to appoint board members of public organizations under its supervision, and simplify their appointment processes as well. 

At the session, the President was also briefed on suggestions by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry on deregulation plans for businesses. 

Labor-management relations 

Meanwhile, the President went on to say, "Now it is high time we should establish a new framework for labor-management relations for the 21st century. We should turn the worldwide economic crisis to our advantage, using it as an opportunity to reestablish labor relations. We should change the entire labor relations paradigm, rather than trying to solve each individual labor issue at each enterprise." 

"The world-renowned automaker General Motors is in danger of going bankrupt, because its CEOs have complied with all the excessive demands of its union. Even though it has developed hydrogen-powered and hybrid cars ahead of others, Toyota is also faltering despite stable labor relations. The worldwide labor-management relations will change in the future, given such an unheard-of economic crisis," he said.

Turning to the recent controversy over personnel cuts at public organizations, the President said, "The government doesn''t want the public agencies to unconditionally cut their personnel on a large scale, but hopes that they will cut personnel, if necessary, and recruit more staff, if they need more able personnel." 

Commenting on the Board of Audit and Inspection''s plan to exempt civil servants from responsibility for mistakes they have made in the course of acting appropriately and carrying out their duties, the President said, "I hope that such a policy will help civil servants, who should take the lead in our efforts to overcome the economic crisis, to work even more enthusiastically." 

He continued, "When I was mayor of Seoul, I found some city government officials hesitated to implement policies under a heavy burden of responsibility. So I added my own comment --  ''This is an instruction from the mayor, signed as of such-and-such a date'' -- to their reporting documents. I found later that it worked out well." 

On how to foster the tourism industry, the President said, "We need to make the tourism projects specialize with unique cultural and historical themes. The tourism industry needs to refrain from competing with itself excessively."

Source : Presidential Council on National Competitiveness