National Tourism Policy and Spatial Patterns of Domestic Tourism in South Korea. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kang, Sanghoon; Kim, Jinwon; Nicholls, Sarah
• Other Names: Yeoman Ian guest-editor.; Beeton Sue guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of travel research. Volume 53:Number 6(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 791
• Page End: 804
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: domestic tourism policy -- exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) -- South Korea -- spatial selectivity -- state rescaling; Travel -- Research -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Research -- Periodicals; 910.72
• DOI: 10.1177/0047287514522875
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0047-2875

Abstract

The implementation of national tourism policy is manifested in the development of destinations and in patterns of tourism activity. Based on Brenner's notions of spatial rescaling and spatial selectivity, this study assesses the changing distribution of domestic tourism in South Korea between 1989 and 2011, and relates these changes to the national tourism policies put in place during those years. Spatial statistical techniques including Moran's global I statistic and local indicators of spatial association are employed. Findings suggest that while domestic tourism activity became less concentrated at the macro level during the study period, at a finer scale it is clear that this deconcentration is nevertheless occurring in a clustered manner. Thus, while the traditional emphasis on Seoul and the southeast appears to have declined, the distribution of tourism's benefits is still uneven. Observations with regards to future tourism policy and concomitant spatial patterns of development and activity are provided.