17,000 Out of 50,000 Passengers Are Foreigners
Expanded Operations During Peak Seasons
New Discounts for Large Families
First Anniversary Events Begin on the 22nd with Citizen Participation
Since its launch in August last year, "Seouldal" has established itself as a leading tourist landmark in Seoul. Over the past year, it has attracted an average of 228 riders per day, with the total number of users exceeding 50,000.
According to Seoul City on August 17, of the approximately 50,000 passengers who have boarded Seouldal in the past year, 68.7% were domestic visitors and 31.3% were foreigners. Since April this year, when advance reservations became available through global online travel agencies, the proportion of foreign passengers has increased significantly-up 16 percentage points from last year-now averaging about 40% per month.
Seouldal is a tethered gas balloon that ascends vertically up to 130 meters above Yeouido, offering panoramic views of the Han River and the city lights, making it a unique day and night sightseeing landmark in Seoul. Since its opening on August 23 last year, it has recorded a total of 50,000 passengers, 17,000 foreign passengers, and more than 5,400 safe and accident-free flights. Seoul City and the Seoul Tourism Organization attributed the rapid attention from both domestic and international tourists to improvements in operational systems for greater convenience, rigorous safety management, and joint marketing efforts with global online travel agencies (OTAs).
Opened on August 23 last year, the "Seouldal" has achieved a total of 50,000 passengers, 17,000 foreign passengers, and over 5,400 safe and accident-free flights. Seoul City
Since April, several new initiatives have been introduced, including extended morning hours on weekends during the peak seasons of April to June and September to November, a more detailed fare structure for children and teenagers (ages 3-18), and a 30% discount for holders of the "Seoul Multichild Happy Card" and their families. In particular, Seoul City has made passenger safety its top priority by conducting regular joint safety inspections with the Yeongdeungpo Fire Station, mandating pre-boarding safety education for all passengers, and incorporating real-time weather updates into operations. As a result, Seouldal has maintained a flawless safety record with no accidents over the past year.
To celebrate the first anniversary of Seouldal's operation, Seoul City is hosting a series of events. At the "Seouldal Photo Zone," visitors can take commemorative photos and write birthday messages to mark Seouldal's first anniversary. The "Quiz Event" invites participants to draw a random question card and answer it. The "Catch Ball" event allows participants three throws, with prizes awarded based on the highest score achieved.
Gil Kiyeon, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Organization, stated, "Seouldal has become one of Seoul's most popular tourist attractions over the past year thanks to the interest and support of Seoul citizens as well as domestic and international tourists. Building on a year of operational experience, we will do our utmost to provide an even safer and more enjoyable experience going forward."
Gu Jongwon, Director of Tourism and Sports at Seoul City, also commented, "One out of every three Seouldal passengers is a foreigner, which shows that it has become a beloved nighttime tourism landmark for both citizens and visitors from around the world. We will continue to develop attractive tourism content so that Seoul can grow as a must-visit and revisit global tourist destination."
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