Around 20 figures, including Lee Charm, Representative of Global Tourism 1 Billion Era, visit the fair venue to verify the potential of island tourism.

The entire fair venue unfolding before the sea is optimal as an exhibition, experiential, and healing space to promote the charm of islands.
May the Island Fair become a turning point that builds the future of South Korea's island tourism together.

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Fair Organizing Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") announced on the 28th that about 20 tourism and island travel experts, including representatives from island-related organizations and tourism associations, visited the 2026 Yeosu World Island Fair venue to directly verify the value and future potential of tourism resources possessed by islands, and gathered their commitment to cooperate for the revitalization of South Korea's island tourism following the fair.

The event was attended by about 20 officials from 10 associations and companies, including Lee Charm, Representative of Global Tourism 1 Billion Era, along with the Korea Island Central Association, International Cultural Exchange Promotion Association, Korea National Heritage Keeper Federation, Korea Taekwondo Association, Coastal Environment Preservation Federation, Seoul Tourism Association, Association of Korean Oriental Medicine in Seoul, Jeonnam Association of the Disabled, and GNP Group.

After having lunch together at Market Island, the participants toured the main venue and received explanations regarding the fair's major exhibitions, contents, and programs. On this day, participants viewed the exhibitions and programs as future tourism resources combining the islands' nature, culture, history, and people's lives, paying keen attention to the potential held by Yeosu's 365 islands.

Lee Charm, Representative of Global Tourism 1 Billion Era, stated, "The value of island tourism that we have not yet fully discovered lies in the nature, culture, and lives of the people themselves that can only be experienced on islands," adding, "Recent tourism is shifting toward experiencing the unique culture and lifestyle of a specific region rather than just visiting famous places, meaning islands hold immense potential."

He emphasized, "What is important is not developing islands to suit tourists, but connecting them to tourism while preserving their inherent values," and added, "If Yeosu's 365 islands also bring out their respective charms, connect island to island, and shape them into a single travel experience, there is more than enough potential for them to develop into unique Korean island tourism content sought after by people worldwide, beyond domestic travelers."

Cho Tae-sook, Chairperson of the Seoul Tourism Association, stated, "If the fair was an opportunity to draw tourists to Yeosu, what matters afterward is ensuring that tourists actually visit the islands and lead to consumption in local tourism industries such as accommodations, food, and experiences," adding, "We must create an environment where tourists can travel easily by organically connecting island-specific tourism products with transportation, accommodations, food, and experiences."

Furthermore, the tourism industry shared the consensus that stay-type tourism, which creates "reasons to stay," is necessary for the continuous growth of island tourism. Participants agreed that beyond simply viewing beautiful scenery, they need to develop programs where people can eat, sleep, walk, experience, and meet residents on the islands, while discovering tourism products that make the most of each island's unique charm.

After touring the fair venue, a tourism industry representative who participated in the fam tour said, "Each of the eight exhibition halls, including the Theme Island, contains its own story, making it meaningful as an educational and experiential venue to publicize the value and charm of islands," adding, "The landscaping harmonizing with the Yeosu sea and the resting places prepared everywhere were also impressive, making it a great space to enjoy relaxation and healing alongside exhibitions and experiences." They continued, "In addition to enjoying various exhibitions and experiences at the fair venue, if you directly visit Yeosu's beautiful islands such as Gaedo and Geumodo, you will be able to feel the charm of Yeosu's island tourism even more deeply."

In the subsequent discussion session, attendees shared the purpose of holding the Island Fair and its main contents, while also discussing ways to widely publicize the charm of the fair and South Korea's island tourism by utilizing the networks and PR channels held by the tourism industry and related organizations. Attaching meaning to the fact that this fair should not end as a one-time event but serve as a new starting point for South Korea's island tourism, the Committee listened to opinions from the tourism industry and sought together ways to vitalize island tourism that will continue even after the fair.

An official from the Committee stated, "This visit is meaningful in that the tourism industry directly experienced the contents of the Island Fair and jointly confirmed the value and potential of the tourism resources held by islands," adding, "We will continue cooperation with the tourism industry and island-related institutions and organizations so that interest in islands sparked by the fair can lead to actual visits, stays, and revitalization of the local economy." They further stated, "We will do our utmost to ensure that the 2026 Yeosu World Island Fair becomes a turning point that rediscovers the value of islands and builds the future of South Korea's island tourism together."