City Conducts Survey of 101 Foreign Visitors
Clear Increase in Family Group Travelers
Functions as a Hub for Tourism Linked to Nearby Areas
Reviewing a Long-term Master Plan to Attract Tourists
The city of Suncheon in South Jeolla Province (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced on May 8 that, according to a satisfaction survey conducted among foreign travelers visiting Suncheon, more than 93% of respondents expressed satisfaction with their Suncheon trip.
The survey was conducted from April 14 to May 5, targeting 101 foreign travelers who visited the Suncheon Tourist Information Center. Participation in the survey was voluntary and conducted via a Naver online form. The survey focused on respondents' places of residence, purposes of visit, main activities, and overall travel satisfaction.
According to the results, travelers residing in Europe accounted for 63% of respondents, representing a significant proportion. In addition, family groups traveling independently made up 43% of all respondents, reflecting the recent travel trend of preferring relaxed and comfortable small-city trips centered around families.
Over 80% of respondents stayed in Suncheon for two days or more, and many travelers used Suncheon as a base to visit nearby areas such as Boseong. This suggests that Suncheon is functioning as a hub for interregional tourism connections and demonstrates its potential as a destination for foreign visitors seeking longer stays.
The survey found a high level of satisfaction among foreign travelers visiting Suncheon. Specifically, 60% responded that they were "very satisfied," 33% said they were "satisfied," and only 1% expressed dissatisfaction. The most commonly used means of transportation was the city bus (52%), followed by rental cars (14%) and taxis (9%).
However, some foreign travelers pointed out areas for improvement, including a lack of transportation options to tourist sites outside the city center, insufficient foreign language signage, and a shortage of storage facilities at tourist sites and Suncheon Station.
Based on the results of this survey, Suncheon City plans to strengthen efforts to attract more foreign tourists and revitalize tourism in neighboring areas by developing and promoting travel itineraries designed for longer stays.
In particular, the city is actively considering a long-term master plan to attract foreign tourists, which includes expanding cost-effective accommodation options, increasing the availability of English-language signage, and enhancing transportation convenience.
A city official stated, "It is very encouraging that foreign travelers visiting Suncheon have shown such a high level of satisfaction," and emphasized, "We will continue to improve tourism services and implement foreigner-friendly policies to establish Suncheon as a global tourism city."
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