[Edaily Reporter Kim Una ] "We must be able to attract tourists to regional areas in order to draw in the talent that businesses need."
Lamia Kamal Shaoui (pictured), Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), made these remarks during a recent interview with E-Daily at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul. She cited “tourism” as a solution that regions facing the crisis of depopulation should focus on. Her advice is that regions must enhance their appeal by leveraging cultural, historical, and natural resources, in addition to improving living infrastructure such as housing and amenities.
Director Lamia emphasized, “Culture, as well as infrastructure such as housing and community amenities, is a key factor in enhancing a region’s appeal,” adding, “This is why we must focus on the role of tourism in declining regions.”
Director Lamia, a native of France, is an expert who has researched urban and regional policies at the OECD for over 20 years. She has led the Center for Entrepreneurship and SMEs (CFE), which studies entrepreneurship, small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional and urban development policies, since 2016. She visited South Korea to attend a seminar commemorating the 30th anniversary of South Korea’s accession to the OECD.

While describing South Korea as “the most dynamic tourism destination,” Director Lamia advised that tourism demand, currently concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, should be dispersed to regional areas. “We must ensure that the economic and social benefits generated by tourism flow back to the regions,” she explained, adding, “The decentralization of tourism demand is also necessary to address the problem of overtourism in major cities.”
According to OECD statistics, the tourism industry accounts for 1.7% of South Korea’s GDP (gross domestic product), the lowest level among the countries surveyed. Tourism’s share of total employment is also 1.6%, falling significantly short of the OECD average of 6.3%. Director Lamia pointed out, “Tourism is closely linked to various sectors, including housing, transportation, the environment, labor, and digital transformation,” adding, “Tourism, which holds great potential for regional development, is not being fully utilized.”
She emphasized the role of local businesses in revitalizing regional tourism. She also called for diversifying policies—such as attracting large corporations while encouraging youth entrepreneurship—because small businesses, including startups and ventures, can play a greater role in developing tourism products and services that leverage local culture, history, and natural resources.
He cited Ireland’s “Wild Atlantic Way” as a successful example of developing unique local resources into tourism content. “Various stakeholders collaborated to link nine small towns along the west coast into a single route and branded the inclement weather, transforming it into a destination that attracts over 9 million domestic and international tourists annually,” he explained.
Director Lamia spoke highly of the South Korean government’s policies to strengthen interregional connectivity and revitalize regional airports. However, she pointed out that the role of tourism in regional policy has been somewhat underestimated. “Regional revitalization through tourism must be strategized and implemented within a comprehensive policy framework that transcends individual tourism-related ministries or departments,” she said, emphasizing that “the role of a dedicated organization (DMO) that oversees the planning, development, and promotion of tourism products at the local level is also crucial.”