South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched the 2020 Open Tourism Project, involving the revamp of 23 tourist attractions across the country to help boost domestic tourism post-Covid.

The makeovers are intended to allow greater freedom of movement at these tourist sites, and primarily aims to benefit the disabled and elderly, as well as families with babies.

“We will increase the amount of support funds and focus on developing good tourism content,” culture minister Park Yang-woo said, adding that the tourism ministry is striving to not only enhance the physical environment, but also the overall management, of the sites.

A grant of US$206,000 – an increase from the initial US$130,000 – will support each site’s revamp, which includes the renovation of public toilet facilities.

The domestic sites to be revamped includes those in Gyeonggido Province, Jeju Island, Gangwondo Province and Gyeongsangnam-do Province. In addition, tourism businesses in those regions will receive customised consulting sessions, training courses for workers, as well as assistance for online and offline marketing efforts.

For one, the Yeonmudae, Janganmun and Hwaseong Haenggung located in Suwon, Gyeonggido Province are included in the project. The city decided to invest more than US$1.5 million into revamping these sites after consulting the tourism ministry. The sum includes US$620,800 in state funds (US$206,000 per site) and US$931,000 in municipal funds.

The city said it will improve access to wheelchairs, secure barrier-free movements around the area, and install tourist information boards that respond to both touch and voice for the disabled. Access to restrooms, rest facilities, parking lots and lodging facilities will also be improved.