농촌지역 걷기여행길 관광 활성화를 위한 남해바래길 운영 개선 사례 연구 = A Case Study on Improving the Management of Namhae Barae-gil to Revitalize Rural Walking Trail – based Tourism

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Trails connect people with nature and local communities, providing health, cultural, and economic benefits. However, rural walking trails in Korea often face persistent challenges such as fragmented planning, limited professional capacity, and insufficient long-term management. This study analyzes the Namhae Barae-gil 2.0 regeneration project (2020–2024) to identify practical strategies for revitalizing rural walking trail-based tourism. The research was conducted through a qualitative approach combining in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and a review of relevant literature. The findings indicate that the regeneration strategy can be structured around three key pillars: (1) Governance Structure : integrating management under the Namhae Tourism & Culture Foundation, recruiting external professional experts, strengthening linkages with the Korea Dulle-gil Trail and related national initiatives, and revising local ordinances; (2) Service Quality : completing the circular main route, diversifying branch, village, and island-themed trails, and strengthening branding through design renewal, storytelling, and the introduction of a dedicated mobile application; and (3) Community Co-Benefits : implementing wellness-oriented programs, training local trail stewards, and promoting community-based events in collaboration with local actors. The study emphasizes the importance of developing objective indicators to clearly articulate the value of Namhae Barae-gil in order to secure the legitimacy of continued policy support and public investment. While recruiting external expertise proved essential for project acceleration, challenges remain in retaining professional personnel and establishing sustainable institutional mechanisms. Namhae Barae-gil thus serves as a reference model for planning and managing rural walking trails in Korea.