Romantic Yeosu Achieves 10 Million Tourists After 3 Years

10.33 Million Visitors by End of October... Big Data Shows Significant Increase in Visits by People in Their 20s and 30s

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] Jeollanam-do Yeosu City (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong) announced on the 9th that it has achieved 10 million tourists for the first time in three years since COVID-19.

According to the city, the number of tourists visiting major tourist spots was counted at 10.33 million as of the end of October.

After 8.72 million in 2020 and 9.77 million in 2021, the number of tourists surpassed 10 million for the first time in three years, indicating that Yeosu tourism, which had been stagnant due to COVID-19, is recovering rapidly.

In particular, during the peak tourist season of July and August summer vacation, 2.58 million people visited, which is about 20,000 more than the 2.83 million in 2019 before COVID-19.

According to the analysis of '2022 Summer Vacation Travel Rate and Destinations' by Consumer Insight, a consumer research specialist organization, Yeosu City's summer vacation destination share ranked fifth nationwide, rising one notch from last year.

In the analysis of 'Vacation Map Based on Big Data' by Maeil Business Newspaper and Shinhan Card, an increase in young tourists was prominent. Compared to 2019, the number of people in their 20s who visited Yeosu in July this year increased by 36.3%, and those in their 30s increased by 28.1%.

Yeosu City cited the following factors for the increase in tourists: ▲ pristine natural environment and romantic night sea ▲ increase in high-end accommodations ▲ continuous development of tourism content ▲ recognition of safe tourist destinations created together with citizens.

Especially in September and October, various festivals such as Yeosu's representative festivals 'Geobukseon Festival', 'Namdo Food Culture Festival', 'Yeosu Night Sea Fireworks Festival', and 'Yeoja Bay Mudflat Sunset Experience' attracted nationwide attention.

Ecotourism programs like 'Ssamok Ssamok Nangdo' and the themed travel top 10 'Camping Daejeon' were also popular, and various tourism content developments such as the creation of 'Seommaeul Neoul-gil' following the opening of Yeosu Seomseom-gil and the operation of 'The Seom Healing Center' enhanced satisfaction with Yeosu tourism.

Additionally, the 'Comprehensive Tourism Countermeasures Team' operated by Yeosu City and the 'Public-Private Cooperation Organization' for regional tourism development contributed significantly to resolving various inconveniences and improving friendliness, playing a major role in the increase of tourists.

A city official said, "As the tourism recovery trend becomes clear, it is expected that many tourists will visit this year at levels similar to those before COVID-19."

He added, "Since household consumption contraction due to high inflation could cause the tourism industry to freeze again at any time, we will do our best to welcome tourists with friendly service, reasonable accommodation rates, and the creation of a clean food culture."

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon hss79@asiae.co.kr