Festival Creation・Success Factor and Problem of Tourism Resources

-The Case of the Cho-cho Festival in Hampyeong County, South Korea-

Abstract

The introduction of expanded local autonomy in South Korea in 1995 triggered the creation of numerous new festivals that were conceived with the goal of revitalizing their communities. This research examines the Cho-cho Festival held in Hampyeong County, South Jeolla Province, as an example of this phenomenon. Although the county was able to fast-track the transformation of the festival into a tourism resource by giving the sponsor extensive authority to manage the event, the cost of staging the festival is placing a major burden on the local community as its population continues to decline. Measures and policies are needed to facilitate more resilient creation of tourism resources and regional revitalization.