Suwon World Heritage City Forum Selected for Gyeonggi Province Region-Specialized Convention Competition

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] As a result of the competition for the "2023 Gyeonggi Province Region-Specialized Convention Discovery and Development Project" launched by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization to develop conventions (international conferences and meetings) held on local industry themes into international events, three events including the "Suwon World Heritage City Forum" were finally selected.

According to the province on the 17th, the competition considered the linkage between the event theme and regional specialized industry, potential for international growth, and compliance with international standards for venues, and finally selected three events: ▲Suwon World Heritage City Forum ▲Goyang International Destination Competitiveness Forum ▲Siheung Korea Materials Surface Technology Conference.

Each event selected in the competition will be provided with hosting support funds of up to 65 million won, which can be used across various items including venue rental fees and domestic and international promotional expenses.

The support budget was designed so that 50% or more would be utilized by companies located in Gyeonggi Province, thereby encouraging revitalization of the local economy within the province.

Additionally, an advisory panel composed of academics and professional international conference planners provides overall diagnosis of events and consulting for advancement as international convention events, including event internationalization and activation of tourism and economy based on linkage with regional industries.

The Suwon World Heritage City Forum will be held at the Suwon Convention Center from September 11 to 12.

With the theme of "Sustainable Use of World Heritage," forums and panel discussions will be held with officials and experts from international organizations such as UNESCO and the World Heritage Cities Organization, and public and expert forums will be held on various topics including "World Heritage and Arts, Film, People, Climate Change, and Peace."

Simultaneously with the event, various programs are scheduled including pop-up stores at Haengridan-gil and world heritage appreciation tours, and over 600 participants from 21 countries are expected to attend this year.

Choi Yong-hun, head of the Tourism Industry Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, "It is highly meaningful that region-specialized conventions in Suwon and Goyang, which were discovered through this competition project, have grown into international events capable of making a leap forward as K-conventions."