Only Summer Peak Season? Gangwon-do East Coast Bustles Year-Round... Spotlight on 'Inscape Yangyang by Parnas'

- Gangwon-do's total tourists in 2022 reached 153.45 million, up 17.8% YoY...Tourists in Q1 this year also rose 13% YoY
- Tourists flock year-round to the pleasant natural environment, with concentration in Gangwon-do's East Coast areas like Yangyang

[Inscape Yangyang by Parnas Rendering]

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, tourists are flocking to Gangwon-do regardless of the season. Unlike in the past when tourists only crowded during the summer peak season, visitors now come year-round, leading to increased demand for tourism products and accommodation facilities.

Gangwon-do used to have a strong image of attracting tourists mainly during the summer peak season. Many people perceived it as a place to visit and enjoy the sea or mountains only during the summer. However, recently, after experiencing COVID-19, tourists have been visiting in spring, autumn, and even winter, regardless of the season.

According to the Gangwon-do Tourism Foundation, the total number of tourists visiting Gangwon-do in 2022 was 153.45 million, an increase of 23.19 million (17.8%) compared to 2021. The number of visitors continues to rise this year as well.

Gangwon-do reported that in the first quarter of this year, 35.94 million tourists visited the province, an increase of about 4.08 million (13%) compared to the same period last year. Despite it being the winter season, which can be considered somewhat off-season, the number of tourists visiting Gangwon-do has steadily increased.

As Gangwon-do has transformed into a tourist destination bustling with visitors all year round, the East Coast of Gangwon-do has become more prominent at the center of this trend. The East Coast boasts pristine natural environments such as refreshing sea views, mountains, and valleys, attracting more tourists not only in summer but also in spring, autumn, and winter.

Recently, the East Coast region of Gangwon-do has emerged as a hotspot for 'workation' and 'multi-address' lifestyles, where people work while enjoying their surroundings, drawing tourists to major cities like Yangyang, Sokcho, and Gangneung along the East Coast.

In particular, Yangyang in Gangwon-do has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination with various marine sports and attractions, including Surf Beach near Hajodae Beach, yachting at Susan Port, Naksansa Temple, and Naksan Beach, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Additionally, since the opening of the Seoul?Yangyang Expressway in 2017, travel from Seoul and the metropolitan area to Yangyang has become possible within an hour, improving accessibility. With the East-West high-speed railway scheduled to open in 2027, it will be possible to travel from Seoul Yongsan to Sokcho in about 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is expected to directly impact Yangyang. Especially, once the 'Donghae Line' railway connecting Busan Station to Goseong Jejin Station is completed, Yangyang is anticipated to become the central area for East Coast longitudinal travel along the seaside views.

Moreover, Yangyang International Airport, the only international airport on the East Coast of Gangwon-do, currently operates flights to Clark in the Philippines, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, Narita in Japan, and Taipei in Taiwan. The airport plans to launch four new routes to Beijing, Changchun, Weihai, and Haikou in China as early as July this year, which is expected to accelerate the influx of tourists.

As tourists flock to the East Coast of Gangwon-do and Yangyang, accommodation facilities are ramping up supply to meet the increasing tourism demand. The accommodation facility 'Inscape Yangyang by Parnas,' located right in front of Naksan Beach in Yangyang, is attracting attention.

It consists of one building with 7 basement floors and 39 above-ground floors, comprising 393 residential lodging units. The units range from 37 to 151 square meters in exclusive area and are designed in 21 different types to broaden the choices for consumers. At 174.6 meters tall and 39 floors high, it is the tallest building in Gangwon-do. The top floor, the 39th, features a rooftop lounge designed to offer panoramic ocean and mountain views from the highest building.

The 16th floor houses outdoor infinity pools, indoor pools, a poolside bar, private cabanas, and fitness facilities. Notably, the rooftop lounge includes a 'Glass Edge' with a protruding glass floor inspired by the Hudson Yards Edge in New York, allowing visitors to enjoy a thrilling view beneath their feet, making it expected to become a 'hip place' on the East Coast. Its proximity to the beach also allows guests to go straight to the shore in swimwear or beachwear.

Additionally, the facility offers contract holders 30 days of free accommodation annually and provides profit-sharing from hotel operations, lodging, and investment returns simultaneously, maximizing the contract holders' earnings.

Meanwhile, the sales gallery for 'Inscape Yangyang by Parnas' can be visited by making a prior reservation.