Gangwon and Gyeonggi Provinces to Promote Designation as Nation's First 'Metropolitan Tourism Special Zone'

Nami Island~Jaraseom~Gangchon Area 'Bukhangang Riverside Tourism Special Zone' Cooperation
Benefits Including National Funding Support, Preferential Loan Interest Rates, and Casino Operation Permits

Jarasum Namdo [Gapyeong-gun]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon Province is collaborating with Gyeonggi Province to pursue the designation of the nation's first 'Metropolitan Tourism Special Zone.'

According to Gangwon Province on the 25th, the two metropolitan local governments had previously agreed in July 2019 to cooperate on jointly promoting the tourism special zone, and in December last year, Chuncheon City and Gapyeong County completed the application procedures for the designation of the tourism special zone.

To be designated as a tourism special zone, certain requirements must be met, including having over 100,000 foreign tourists in the past year, tourism information facilities, public convenience facilities, and accommodation facilities as prescribed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and having less than 10% of the area used for non-tourism activities.

Once designated as a tourism special zone, the area can receive related national budget support and benefits such as ▲ loans from the Tourism Promotion Development Fund ▲ casino business permits ▲ creation of car-free streets ▲ relaxation of restrictions on restaurant operating hours and outdoor advertising permits ▲ allowance of performances and food trucks in parks and pedestrian paths.

The province plans to utilize the North Han River waterfront tourism resources represented by Namiseom and Jaraseom Islands to expand the infrastructure base for water sports tourism through the designation of the tourism special zone.

On Jaraseom Island, various themed events introducing the beauty and charm of Jaraseom are held annually, including seasonal Jaraseom Namdo Flower Festivals and the Jaraseom Jazz Festival.

Namiseom Island, known as a drama filming location, has transformed into a cultural tourism site with a rapid increase in tourists from Asia. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was highly regarded as a pristine natural resort sought after not only by tourists from North America, Europe, and the Middle East but also by foreigners residing in Korea.

The province envisions developing the Gangchon area along the North Han River into a retro-themed village, establishing it as the 'Post-COVID K-Tourism No.1 Zone.' If the North Han River area is designated as a tourism special zone, it will be the first nationwide case of a 'metropolitan tourism special zone designation' between Gangwon and Gyeonggi.

Kim Jong-wook, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said, "We will do our best to contribute to revitalizing the tourism industry by creating a successful model that generates synergistic effects through metropolitan tourism special zone designation via cooperation between adjacent local governments."