Global Tourism Leaders Take Their First Step
Dong-Eui University is introducing a meaningful project carried out in partnership with local governments and an international tourism organization. The TPO-linked K-CLIP project brought Korean and international students together to explore regional tourism, identify challenges from an international visitor’s perspective, and develop practical ideas for improving tourism in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do.
I. Project Overview and Partners
- Organized and supported by: Dong-Eui University RISE Project Group, Tourism Promotion Organization(TPO), and major local governments in Gyeongsangnam-do — Gimhae City, Namhae County, and Tongyeong City.
- Participants: 39 people in total, including 19 students from universities participating in the Global Tourism Sharing University program and 20 international participants recruited through TPO.
The “TPO-linked K-CLIP Tourism Content Development Project” was designed as more than a one-time field trip or short-term exchange. It was a practical, results-oriented global program in which Korean and international participants worked in teams to examine regional tourism in depth. They visited three of Gyeongsangnam-do’s major tourism destinations — Gimhae, Namhae, and Tongyeong — and assessed the readiness of tourism services from the perspective of international visitors. Based on their
observations, they developed new tourism content and policy ideas that could be applied across Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do.
II. Expected Impact and Significance
By living and working together for five nights and six days with young people from different countries, the project aimed to strengthen cultural understanding, global communication skills, and an international youth network. The project also sought to improve the competitiveness of local tourism by providing local governments with practical foundational data for tourism policy and marketing, based on observations collected directly from the perspective of international visitors. Participants gained hands-on experience across the full process — from field research and the Tourism Leaders Meeting to idea development, expert mentoring, and final presentations. This allowed them to build practical portfolios while developing skills that connect academic learning with real-world tourism work.
The project is presented as a successful model of collaboration among a university, local governments, and an international organization, bringing together two goals: developing young talent and revitalizing regional tourism.
III. Korean and International Students Develop New Tourism Ideas Together
1) Five Nights and Six Days of Field Research and Tourism Service Evaluation
Dong-Eui University’s Global Tourism Sharing University successfully operated the TPO-linked K-CLIP program from July 9 to 14, 2026, across Gimhae, Namhae, and Tongyeong.
Working in teams, participants experienced major attractions in each area, including the National Museum of Gimhae, Daeseong-dong Tombs, and Gaya Theme Park in Gimhae; German Village, Boramdo Observatory, and a cruise in Namhae; and the cable car, Dongpirang Mural Village, Samdosugun Tongjeyeong, and nighttime tourism experiences in Tongyeong. They closely examined inconveniences and possible improvements in tourism services from an international visitor’s perspective.
2) Tourism Leaders Meeting and Six Practical Tourism Program Assessments and Policy Proposals
Immediately after the field visits, participants held a Tourism Leaders Meeting, where they analyzed services from multiple perspectives using survey data and their on-site experiences. Teams presented ideas around two key questions: how to position and market the participating regions in global markets, and how to connect Gimhae, Namhae, and Tongyeong into marketable tourism products. The discussions resulted in six practical tourism program assessments and policy proposals.
3) 4.41/5 Satisfaction and Continued Local-Government Collaboration
The project went beyond a conventional field trip and operated as a hands-on planning project. In the participant satisfaction survey, it received an average score of 4.41 out of 5.
A representative of Dong-Eui University’s Global Tourism Sharing University said the university plans to strengthen cooperation with local governments so that students’ ideas can lead to actual regional tourism policies and content development. The university also plans to actively support the expansion of project outcomes through competitions and other opportunities, while continuing to develop follow-up idea contests and practical education programs.