Cafes and Playgrounds Open Doors to New Tourism Trends
Hapcheon County in Gyeongnam announced on the 23rd that it held an opening ceremony for "Hapcheon Meong Stay" in the Pyeonggu-ri area of Ssangbaek-myeon.
More than 60 people attended the opening ceremony, including the Hapcheon County Governor, the Chairman and members of the Hapcheon County Council, and heads of local organizations and institutions in Ssangbaek-myeon.
In the era of 13 million pet owners, the county aimed to develop sustainable tourism resources and create a tourist destination that satisfies both pet owners and non-pet owners. Through the 2022 Gyeongnam-style pet-friendly tourism site contest, the county secured 250 million KRW in provincial funding, 800 million KRW in special grants, and 850 million KRW in county funds, totaling 1.9 billion KRW to establish "Hapcheon Meong Stay."
The facilities include a cafe, restrooms, various agility courses (a type of dog sport where dogs follow their owner's instructions to overcome obstacles), and a playground. The county operates these directly (with an unmanned cafe).
The playground, boasting a large area of 7,535 square meters, is divided into sections for small dogs, medium and small dogs, and large dogs, allowing dogs to play safely under their owners' supervision. Admission is free.
Through this project, the county expects to create new tourism demand from nearby major cities by developing a unique themed tourist destination, as well as to increase visitor stay time, boost sales for local restaurants and shops, and revitalize the local economy.
Governor Kim Yooncheol said, "I hope this project will serve as an opportunity to promote the diversity of tourism in Hapcheon. As the pet-owning population continues to grow, I expect 'Hapcheon Meong Stay' to become a new tourist attraction in the southern region where people can fully enjoy leisure and fun with their pets."
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