South Korea pilots green tourism program.

On June 1st, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced that it will collaborate with Tongyeong City in South Gyeongsang Province (southeast of the Korean Peninsula) to launch a green tourism program, contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help address the climate change crisis.

KTO announced that the "Carbon-Free Trip" is a pilot tourism program that will take place on June 18th and 25th, 2021, on Yeondae Island in Tongyeong City. KTO is currently seeking participants for this program, aiming to select 20 teams, each consisting of two to four members.

The "carbon-free trip" will be a two-day tour of an eco-friendly park on the island, featuring solar-powered production facilities. Each team will camp in the park, adhering to the government's social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

During their stay, participants will be required to refrain from using fossil fuels or disposable products, as well as from disposing of non-recyclable waste, with the goal of "traveling without carbon emissions".

In the program, a chef from a local restaurant will conduct cooking classes featuring eco-friendly dishes using readily available ingredients. Participants will also be encouraged to collect plastic waste while walking around the island so they can be repurposed into decorative items.

Other events include a concert powered by solar energy, hiking along eco-friendly trails with ecologists, and stargazing at night.

Huyen Chau