Concerns Mount Over Impact on Tourism Industry
Gangwon Tourism Foundation Postpones Gyeongpo Trail Run Indefinitely
Efforts to Restore Gangneung's Image and Revitalize Local Economy to Continue
Gangneung City in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has declared a disaster due to an extreme drought, raising serious concerns about a significant blow to the tourism industry.
Gangwon Tourism Foundation posted a notice on the 3rd that the "2nd Gyeongpo Trail Run" event is postponed indefinitely. Screenshot from Gangwon Tourism Foundation website.
The Gangwon Tourism Foundation announced on September 6 that the large-scale "2nd Gyeongpo Trail Run" event, which was expected to attract over 1,000 participants, has been postponed indefinitely.
On September 3, the Gangwon Tourism Foundation released an official statement, saying, "We empathize with the difficulties faced by the local community under these disaster conditions, and have decided to postpone the event, prioritizing safety and the protection of local water resources above all else."
Previously, the Gangwon Tourism Foundation had planned to hold the "2nd Gyeongpo Trail Run" on September 6, aiming to strengthen the branding of the Olympic legacy zone and revitalize the local economy. If the event were to proceed, the organizers had considered measures to minimize water consumption, such as providing drinking water and offering alternatives to hand sanitizers for participants. In addition, celebratory events such as the DJ party and after-beer party, which were originally planned, were canceled, and the overall scale of the event was significantly reduced in preparation.
However, considering the ongoing drought, the foundation ultimately decided to postpone the event indefinitely after discussions with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Gangneung City.
The Gangwon Tourism Foundation emphasized, "As soon as the disaster situation is resolved, we will make every effort to promote tourism in Gangneung and restore its image, and we will resume preparations for the postponed Gyeongpo Trail Run."
Choi Sunghyun, CEO of the Gangwon Tourism Foundation, stated, "Following the declaration of a disaster in Gangneung City, the foundation has been actively seeking ways to support Gangneung. Reflecting the current situation, we have decided to postpone the event indefinitely, and we ask for the understanding of the many participants who had planned to visit Gangneung."
He added, "Once the disaster situation in Gangneung is lifted, we will hold the postponed event and contribute to the revitalization of Gangneung's economy."
The Gyeongpo Trail Run has been held since 2023, attracting 1,229 participants last year, and the first event this year, held on May 24, drew 1,023 participants. Notably, the event received a positive rating of 78.4% in participant satisfaction surveys and had been steadily growing, but with this postponement, disruptions to the local tourism industry now seem inevitable.
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