뉴노멀 시대 복지관광의 개념 재정립 및 방향성에 대한 탐색적 연구

An Exploratory Study on the Redefinition and Policy Directions of Welfare Tourism in the New Normal Era

Purpose – This study aims to redefine the concept of welfare tourism in the New Normal era, and to propose policy directions to develop a Korean model of welfare tourism. Design/Methodology/Approach – A comprehensive review of domestic and international literature and policy documents was conducted, with comparative analyses of related concepts such as social tourism, barrier-free tourism, accessible tourism, inclusive tourism, universal tourism, and tourism for all. Case studies of welfare tourism programs and policies in Korea and abroad were analyzed to identify institutional requirements and implementation mechanisms. Furthermore, welfare philosophy, contrasting selectivism and universalism, was applied as an analytical framework to examine the theoretical foundation and long-term vision of Korean welfare tourism. Findings – The study presents welfare tourism not as a single model but as a hybrid policy framework that balances the efficiency of selectivism with the inclusiveness of universalism. From this perspective, four strategic directions were derived: establishing a health- and safety-centered system, responding to a super-aged society and growing care needs, strengthening personalized services and privacy protection, and integrating digital transformation with smart welfare tourism. These findings highlight pathways to institutionalize welfare tourism as a sustainable, rights-based system in Korea. Research Implications – In this study, it was confirmed that welfare tourism is expanding from selective support targeting low-income groups and persons with disabilities to broader ‘tourism-vulnerable’ groups such as pregnant women, families with children, and caregivers. It also reveals that even under a universal rights-based framework, differential support tailored to group-specific needs remains essential. Finally, it shows that the structural transformations of the New Normal era directly shape the means, processes, and outcomes of welfare tourism.