South Korea has established a cultural tourism program that invites visitors to stay at Buddhist temples throughout the country. The program was launched in 2002 in response to a shortage of beds during the 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Known as the Korea Temple Stay program, it is a partnership between the Jogye Buddhist Order and the Korea Tourism Organisation.

The program showcases a representative aspect of Korean culture – the 1700-year-old Korean tradition of Buddhism. By staying at a temple, visitors spend time doing what the monks and nuns do, which is “to find your true self.” They get up very early and meditate through much of the day. The types of meditation include sitting, walking, and chanting meditation. They also practice ceremonial services, hold formal monastic meals, and conduct tea ceremonies. More recently, the program has organized itself around themes, which include health, consolation, and relaxation.

The Temple Stay program has been expanding year by year. In 2013, over 186,000 people have stayed in the 120 participating temples. Sixteen of the temples are open to foreign nationals. Over 110,000 foreigners have participated from 2002 and 2011.

Other regions could take advantage of a rising interest in meditation by offering a systematic way for tourists to book stays at spiritual places. For example, perhaps individual state tourism agencies could establish websites similar to the Korea Tourism Organisation’s Temple Stay site to provide direct access to spiritual retreat centers of different faiths and practices. In the United States, it would be more about the diversity of offerings across religions and secular health centers verses South Korea’s mission to present a specific practice to represent their cultural heritage.