■ Ecotourism provides economic benefits to local residents through the conservation and sustainable management of ecological assets, thus boasting high environmental, economic, and social acceptance. Recognizing its importance, Jeonbuk State is actively promoting ecotourism-related policies. Notably, Jeonbuk can play an integral role in addressing environmental issues and making positive changes in local communities by focusing on the following key trends in contemporary ecotourism: 1) utilization of specialized local resources, 2) intersectoral convergence, 3) response to climate and biodiversity crises, and 4) expansion of the target market for ecotourism. With the launch of Jeonbuk global bioeconomy cities, Jeonbuk State should incorporate major ecotourism trend shifts into its assessment of policy progress and creation of an effective task list

■ In creating ecotourism destinations and Jeonbuk Cheolligil (thousand-mile road) over the past decade, Jeonbuk has installed hardware, cultivated ecomanagers, and developed ecological commentary programs. Additionally, it has proactively established governance systems, such as resident councils and Jeonbuk Ecotourism Promotion Support Centers, to facilitate ecotourism promotion. The wide-ranging projects consistently undertaken for the past 10 years have delivered some noteworthy achievements, including an increase in the number of people who visited  ecotourism destinations and who completed Cheolligil. However, such projects suffer from several inherent limitations: a singular focus on hardware at the expense  of software, a lack of collaborative mechanisms between cities and counties, and underwhelming economic benefits delivered to local communities.

■ The 8th popular election administration is currently undertaking the “Jeonbuk State Eco-Camping Samcheolligil” project to foster connections between citizens and resources and create an ecological economy. In addition, the “Jeonbuk Ecotourism+Master Plan (2025–2034)” initiative, which puts forth 10 ecotourism-related action plans for the next decade, is being promoted. In this context, we propose the following five (+) tasks to add value to the region and further encourage ecotourism projects in Jeonbuk. 

① (New demand +) Promote unique Jeonbuk stories that reflect recent ecotourism trends and showcase the seamless integration of resources.

② (Ecological assets and zoning +) Support the conservation and restoration of core ecological assets (species habitats); clearly define core, buffer, and collaborative zones; and develop programs tailored to the functions of each zone. 

③ (Linked projects and support services +) Develop synergistic partnerships with Jeonbuk Special Act specialized zones and existing tourism businesses to increase stay time and maximize ripple effects, improve transportation and lodging services, and boost publicity through festivals and events. 

④ (Governance +) Strengthen policy expertise and consistency through expert participation in a multilayered governance mechanism, operate expert advisory groups to assess regional needs and limitations and provide customized consulting services, and lay a foundation for self-sustaining growth through village council advice and policy participation opportunities. 

⑤ (Holistic branding +) Build an integrated brand that highlights the distinctiveness of Jeonbuk ecotourism, accelerating the creation of a Jeonbuk-specific ecological economy.

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