'Feeling the Spring Vibes, Go East'... Gangwon Tourists Up 15% YoY

'Chuncheon Uiamho Bicycle Path' and 'Yeongwol Yeondangwon' Emerging as Popular Tourist Destinations

Chuncheon Uiamho Bicycle Path [Chuncheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] As social distancing measures are eased and outdoor activities increase, the number of tourists visiting Gangwon-do has also risen.

According to the big data-based analysis of Gangwon tourism trends announced by the Gangwon Tourism Foundation on the 28th, the total number of tourists visiting Gangwon-do in March this year was approximately 10.25 million. This represents a 15% increase compared to the previous year and a 6% increase compared to the previous month.

The year-on-year increase is attributed to more holidays and the easing of social distancing. The month-on-month increase is estimated to be due to a rise in outdoor activities such as hiking.

Additionally, with the implementation of the 7-day quarantine exemption for overseas arrivals on March 21, the number of foreign visitors increased by 22% compared to the previous month.

By city and county, the number of visitors increased in 9 cities/counties compared to the previous month and in 10 cities/counties compared to the previous year.

In particular, Taebaek City showed the highest growth rate at 31% year-on-year. This is believed to be due to an increase in visitors wanting to enjoy the last snowy mountains caused by the late heavy snowfall from the 17th to the 19th of last month.

The scale of tourism consumption in Gangwon-do in March was about 122.7 billion KRW, which decreased by 12.9 billion KRW (-9.5%) compared to the previous month. Compared to the previous year, it decreased by 9.9 billion KRW (-7.5%).

Per capita consumption also decreased from 1.401 in February to 1.199. The main cause is analyzed to be a decline in tourism consumption in the accommodation sector.

Consumption in the leisure sector increased significantly, recording +67.9% compared to the previous month. This is believed to be due to an increase in visits to major golf courses within the province.

Cheorwon Soisan Ecological Forest Green Trail [Cheorwon-gun]

Analyzing by major tourist destinations, visitors to Chuncheon’s 'Uiamho Bicycle Path (Bomnae-gil Course)' increased by 104% compared to the previous month, estimated to be due to an increase in cyclists as well as day-trip tourists using private cars from the metropolitan area.

Cheorwon’s 'Soisan Ecological Forest Green Path' saw about a 188% increase in visitors compared to the previous year. This is analyzed as the effect of walking tourism linked to the columnar jointing path opened last November.

Yeongwol’s 'Yeondangwon' showed about a 250% increase in visitors compared to the previous month. It is regarded as a representative case of solving local problems through tourism development by transforming a frequently flooded area into a garden the size of 15 soccer fields.

'Yeondangwon,' Gangwon-do’s first provincial garden, was recently selected by the Korea Tourism Organization as a safe, non-face-to-face spring tourist destination.

Won Moon-gyu, Director of Tourism Marketing, stated, "With the easing of social distancing and the exemption of quarantine for foreigners, we will further promote Gangwon-do as a four-season tourist destination for both domestic and international tourists."