On 18 September 2026, the Haenyeo Tourism Forum was held on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, co-hosted by the Jeju Tourism Organization (JTO) and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the inscription of Jeju Haenyeo culture on Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Henyeo culture (women divers) is a deeply rooted cultural heritage of Sehwa-ri village on Jeju Island, which has also been recognized by UN Tourism as one of the Best Tourism Villages (BTV).
The UN Tourism Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific (RSOAP) introduced the international recognition of Sehwa-ri village’s initiatives, as well as the potential for the future development of BTV. It also called for active cooperation towards the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027.
RSOAP will continue to work closely with JTO to promote international collaboration among BTV villages.
