8.36 Million Visitors by 2023, Differentiated Content Continues to Attract Tourists
Strengthening Competitiveness through Connection with Regional Specialized Resources like Sea, Forest, and Hot Springs
The 'Era of 10 Million Tourists' in Uljin-gun, Gyeongbuk, is approaching.
According to the analysis by the Korea Tourism Organization's Data Lab, the number of tourists visiting Uljin in 2023 was recorded at 8.36 million, a 5.1% increase compared to last year. Therefore, it is expected that the number will exceed 10 million by 2024 or at the latest 2025.
For reference, the number of tourists was analyzed using data from mobile carriers, credit card companies, and navigation data by the Korea Tourism Data Lab.
Last year, the most visited place by tourists in the region was Deokgu Oncheon with 545,439 visitors, followed by Wangpicheon Park with 492,415 visitors, Jukbyeon Coastal Sky Rail with 419,749 visitors, National Marine Science Museum with 294,354 visitors, Deungisan Skywalk with 254,227 visitors, and Seongryugul Cave with 224,693 visitors.
Uljin-gun plans to achieve 10 million tourists in 2024 by discovering new content that combines the sea, forest, and hot springs in line with the tourism slogan "The Breath of Korea, Uljin," and by strengthening marketing that meets tourism trends to become the best tourist destination on the East Coast.
In particular, through the private investment attraction of an all-weather ocean resort of about 230,000㎡, including a water park usable in all four seasons, they plan to create new tourism demand linking hot springs, resorts, and water parks.
Additionally, efforts are being accelerated to create spaces for staying so that visitors can enjoy the excellent and serene natural scenery more richly and for a longer time.
About 10 billion KRW will be invested in projects such as living in a seaside village, temporarily living in a forest village, and creating a dog-friendly beach to expand stay-type tourist destinations and develop a city where visitors want to stay one more day.
Furthermore, by developing Jukbyeon Port and Hupo Port, they aim to secure northern and southern tourism hubs, and through projects such as improving the nightscape of Yeomjeon Beach, creating the nightscape of Deungisan in Hupo, and establishing an open space at Jukbyeon Port, they plan to strengthen competitiveness by differentiating themselves as the best night tourism city in Korea compared to other local governments.
They will also continuously discover premium tourism resources such as creating the Myeongsasimni Pine Belt (coastal forest), opening a pilot section of the National East-West Trail, creating barefoot walking spots, fully expanding and increasing the operation section of Jukbyeon Coastal Sky Rail, and upgrading the Pyeonghae Namdaecheon Dano Festival to a nationwide event. Various online and offline marketing and promotional activities will be strengthened to enhance the image of the county as a tourist city.
County Governor Son Byeong-bok emphasized, "The tourism industry revitalizes the region and creates various jobs, and Uljin, which has natural resources, has another competitive advantage." He added, "We will do our best to utilize all our capabilities to bring forward the era of 10 million tourists as much as possible, making it a city where many tourists want to stay longer and enjoy more."
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