섬관광 활성화를 위한 섬관광정책 연구

A Study on the Island Tourism Policy to Promote the Island Tourism

The decreasing trend in the population of island regions is so severe that the government is establishing policies related to island tourism to prevent the crisis of local extinction and to prevent inhabited islands from turning into uninhabited ones by revitalizing the island economies. However, the population of island regions continues to decline. Meanwhile, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in island travel increased as people sought to avoid the 'three Cs' (close, confined, and crowded situations) under social distancing regulations. Islands, with their unique geographical characteristics and natural environment, are popular among tourists who wish to enjoy the scenery. Reflecting this recent increase in interest in island travel, not only the central government but also various local governments are rushing to introduce policies to revitalize island tourism. Therefore, this study aims to analyze whether the island tourism policies of the government and local authorities, from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to the present, adequately reflect the travel trends of visiting tourists. It will identify problems, propose directions for island tourism policies, and respond to the crisis of island region extinction.