Gyeongsangbuk-do has once again gained international recognition for its outstanding capabilities as a global tourism hub. Following the successful bid for the 2025 APEC Summit, the province has now successfully concluded the Annual Summit of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the largest international tourism organization in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang City, and Gyeongju City, and organized by the Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization (GCTO), the ‘2026 PATA Annual Summit’ completed its three-day journey, starting in Pohang on the 11th and ending with a closing ceremony in Gyeongju on the 13th.

Under the theme “Navigating Towards a Resilient Future,” the summit brought together over 550 global tourism leaders from 35 countries to share a future vision for the Asia-Pacific tourism industry.

Success of PATA’s First ‘Dual-City’ Model: Where Heritage Meets High-Tech
Marking the 75th anniversary of PATA’s founding, this summit garnered significant attention for being the first in PATA history to operate under a ‘Dual-City’ model.

By linking Pohang, a mecca for advanced industry and maritime tourism, with Gyeongju, the heart of historical and cultural tourism, the event showcased the diverse charms of Korean tourism to international participants.

Day 1 (Pohang): A ‘Youth Symposium’ and ‘Industry Roundtable’ were held with 160 global tourism professionals and students. This served as a successful pre-opening stage for the Pohang International Exhibition & Convention Center (POEX), scheduled to open in 2027.
Days 2 & 3 (Gyeongju): Main sessions featured representatives from UN Tourism, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), and various national tourism boards. They engaged in in-depth discussions on Smart MICE, digital tourism, and heritage tourism.
“Gyeongju and Pohang, where tradition and modernity coexist, were the perfect venues to discuss ‘Tourism Resilience,’” said Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO of PATA. “The warm hospitality and high-level event management we experienced in Gyeongbuk were enough to show global experts the true essence of Korea.”

A Reunion After 47 Years: ‘PATA Commemorative Garden’ at Bomun Lake
The summit held special significance as it returned to Gyeongju’s ‘Yukbuchon’ (currently the GCTO headquarters) after 47 years. This was the site of the 1979 PATA Workshop, which celebrated the opening of the Bomun Tourist Complex, South Korea’s first tourism complex.

On the 12th, GCTO and PATA held a unveiling ceremony for the ‘PATA Commemorative Garden’ at Mullebang-a (Waterwheel) Square to officially honor this nearly half-century bond. Among the attendees was So Jae-pil, a PATA Life Member who attended the 1979 workshop. "I am deeply moved to see Bomun, which started as Korea's No. 1 tourism complex, now standing tall as an international convention city," he said emotionally.

Election of the First Korean Chair and the Essence of K-Content
The summit also yielded achievements that bolstered Korea’s international standing. The PATA Board of Directors elected Oh Chang-hee, Chairman of Sebang Travel, as the first-ever Korean Chair of PATA.

“It is a great honor to be elected as the first Korean Chair in PATA’s 75-year history, and it reflects the elevated status of Korean tourism,” said Chairman Oh. “I will take the lead in sharing Korea’s successful tourism models and strengthening global networks to ensure sustainable growth for the Asia-Pacific tourism industry.”

The summit also featured diverse K-Content that received immense praise:

Opening Ceremony: Dynamic media performances by ‘Saengdonggam Crew’ and a moving performance by the ‘Gyeongbuk Haenyeo (Female Divers) Choir.’
Gala Dinner: A hanbok fashion show featuring 5 master designers against the backdrop of the Gyeongju Tower.
Main Performance: A collaboration between ‘Gugak icon’ Lee Hee-moon and contemporary dance pioneer Ahn Eun-mi, which blurred the lines between tradition and modernity.

Solidifying the Position as a Global Tourism Hub
With the 2027 summit destination confirmed as Sanya, China, Gyeongsangbuk-do and GCTO plan to use the success of this summit as a catalyst for the 2025 APEC Summit.

Gyeongju has once again proven its world-class MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) operational capabilities, while Pohang has established itself as a rising powerhouse in the MICE industry ahead of the POEX opening.

Kim Nam-il, CEO of GCTO, stated: “Through this summit, we have established a vital foothold for Gyeongbuk to enter the heart of the global tourism network. Building on the 47-year trust with PATA, we will focus on attracting foreign tourists and strengthening MICE infrastructure to open a new path for Gyeongbuk tourism that residents can truly feel.”

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