South Chungcheong promotes Catholic pilgrimage tourism in Philippines

South Chungcheong Province has launched a full-scale marketing push in the Philippines to promote its Catholic pilgrimage tourism resources and develop travel products for the Philippine market.

The province participated in the Korea Travel Roadshow, held in Manila and Cebu from June 23-25, using the event to spotlight its major Catholic pilgrimage destinations.

The roadshow took place at the Shangri-La Makati in Manila and the Radisson Blu hotel in Cebu. South Korean participants included the Korea Tourism Organization, local governments, travel agencies and tourism companies.

On the Philippine side, government agencies, local travel agencies, airlines and media representatives attended to discuss ways to expand tourism exchange between the two countries.

During the event, the province held business-to-business consultations with local travel agencies and took part in Korean tourism briefings, focusing on building a cooperative foundation for developing South Chungcheong tourism products.

The province introduced its leading Catholic pilgrimage sites — including Solmoe Shrine, Sinri Shrine and Haemi International Shrine — to the local travel industry and held in-depth discussions on developing and marketing tourism products centered on those destinations.

In addition, the province attended a meeting and tourism briefing with the Korea Tourism Organization to explore ways to boost South Chungcheong tourism and attract more international visitors.

The province plans to use the event as a springboard to convert growing interest in its pilgrimage tourism among the Philippines' large Catholic population into concrete travel products. It also intends to step up efforts to draw overseas visitors by linking its offerings to upcoming international Catholic events, including World Youth Day 2027.

"This event was a meaningful opportunity to raise the commercial viability of South Chungcheong's pilgrimage routes through direct consultations with local travel agencies," a provincial official said. "We will continue tailored overseas marketing efforts so that pilgrimage tourists from the Philippines and across Southeast Asia can actually visit South Chungcheong."