• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.624-641
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• 2004

Since 1995, when local autonomy policies were enacted in Korea, many local governments have adopted festival-centered place-marketing strategies, in order to develop their regional economies by attracting tourists, as well to provide the general public with information about local comparative advantages. This study assesses the spread effect of the Cheongdo Bull-Fighting Festival upon the regional tourism industry, by analysing questionnaire data obtained from festival visitors and merchants at other major tourist attractions in the area. It is concluded that the Cheongdo Bull-Fighting Festival has been insufficient in attaining the objective of developing the regional economy and the tourism industry, because at present, most of the festival spectators are not tourists as such, but rather residents of the Cheongdo daily community (Daegu metropolitan area), and they do not visit other major tourist attractions in conjunction with attending the festival. It is recommended that planning authorities adopt a strategy explicitly designed to increase the "tourists to local residents" ratio, and to improve tourism services to facilitate intra-regional movement of tourists and visitors alike.