The Deogyusan National Park Office of the Korea National Park Service said on March 10 that it has released a Sustainable Travel Guide offering ways to travel that conserve resources while boosting local livelihoods in response to shifting domestic visitor demand.
The office says the guide focuses on reinterpreting and re-discovering the value of the area's abundant natural, cultural, and everyday assets in Deogyusan National Park and the nearby communities of Muju County and Geochang County.
Nine teams of local activists from Deogyusan National Park and surrounding communities helped produce the guide. It presents 10 different travel approaches, each offering fresh perspectives and messages about sustainable tourism.
The guide outlines the park's policies and projects aimed at creating a sustainable visitor culture—everything from ecotourism and green campgrounds to volunteer programs. It also highlights tourism assets such as low-carbon restaurants that celebrate local specialties, traditional and cultural heritage preservation efforts, sustainable farm stays, and eco-interpretation led by local youth. Altogether, it shows how travelers can support the local economy while traveling responsibly.
This year, the Deogyusan National Park Office plans public participation programs, including recruiting local creators to experience the sustainable destinations featured in the guide and help spread their value.
The guide is available as a PDF on the Deogyusan National Park website and the Korea Tourism Organization's \"Korea's Hidden Gems\" site.
Kim Jin-tae, head of Visitor Facilities at the Deogyusan National Park Office, said, \"This guide is an important first step toward building the sustainable visitor culture the park aims for and a co-prosperity model that grows with local communities. We will continue to work to provide high-quality visitor services that meet public demand.\"
