• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.43-54
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• 2021

This study analysed changes in rural tourism between before and after COVID-19 using LDA topic analysis. In order to understand the changes in rural tourism, blog data including the keyword 'Gochang-gun travel' was used. As a result of LDA topic analysis with blog data retrieved, the study found nine topics in 2019 and 2020. 2019 and 2020 are, generally, consistent in topics, but the three topics related to rural experiential tourism that appeared in 2019 did not appear in 2020. In 2020, three new topics emerged: Beach vacations and campings. New travel activities of noncontact with other people(Untact tourism in Korean context) in the COVID-19 era, and The negative impacts on travel businesses and behaviours from COVID-19. Especially, the adverse effects of COVID-19 have made an enormous decline in rural experience tourism destinations and cancellation of local festivals. On the other hand, new tourism activities have emerged due to COVID-19. Those activities have included camping, drive-thru destinations, and cycling. Ecological and natural tourist sites such as Ungok Wetland, Seonunsan Mountain, Seonunsa Temple, and Gusipo Beach appeared. These tourist destinations have a quiet atmosphere and less density place noncontacting with other people when visiting. Also, because overseas travel has become difficult, long-term stay travel in rural areas has appeared. This study indicates that COVID-19 has less impacted rural tourism than other tourism destinations with these positive and negative impacts.