Onboard Events Held for Gangwon Residents’ Experience Group
9 out of 10 Participants "Satisfied"... Performances and Services Receive High Praise
Need for Improvement in Port Excursions Also Raised
The Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO Choi Sunghyun), Gangwon Province, and Sokcho City announced on September 19 that they operated a cruise experience group for Gangwon Province residents from September 6 to 12. The cruise departed from Sokcho Port, called at Muroran, Kushiro, and Hakodate in Japan, and then arrived in Busan.
Gangwon Tourism Organization, Gangwon Province, and Sokcho City have been operating a cruise experience group for Gangwon Province residents from the 6th to the 12th. The cruise departs from Sokcho Port, calls at Muroran, Kushiro, and Hakodate in Japan, and then arrives in Busan. Photo by Gangwon Tourism Organization
This experience group, which included 200 residents of Gangwon Province and Sokcho City, not only increased local residents' understanding and interest in the Sokcho Port cruise industry but also served as an opportunity to promote the appeal of Gangwon tourism both domestically and internationally.
The participants enjoyed a variety of onboard events, directly experiencing the joys of cruise tourism. On the morning of September 7, a full day at sea, the "Gangwon Province Residents Cruise Experience Group Gathering" was held.
After welcoming remarks from key guests representing Gangwon Province, the provincial council, Sokcho City, and the Gangwon Tourism Organization, participants took part in the "Gangwon Cruise Golden Bell" OX quiz and a traditional games competition among 18 cities and counties. Participants teamed up with the guests to play games, naturally interacting with one another and further elevating the atmosphere, which helped raise expectations for cruise tourism.
Later that afternoon, the "2025-2026 Visit Gangwon Years Promotion Event" was held onboard. The event targeted all 3,000 passengers and crew members on the cruise. The venue was packed as participants who correctly answered questions about Sokcho and Hwacheon-recommended travel destinations for September-received Gangwon tourism promotional items. The event generated significant interest and proved highly effective in promoting Gangwon tourism.
From September 8 to 10, the group toured three Japanese ports of call: Muroran, Kushiro, and Hakodate. In particular, the ropeway night view and tram experience in Hakodate were evaluated as excellent examples for Sokcho City’s future tourism resource development. Additionally, a "2025-2026 Visit Gangwon Years Promotion Booth" was operated for Hakodate citizens and tourists, successfully promoting Gangwon tourism and raising brand awareness in Japan.
On September 11, the last full day at sea before returning, a "Sokcho Citizen Meeting" was held with 100 Sokcho citizens. Participants offered a wide range of suggestions, including the introduction of trams and expansion of transportation infrastructure, development of nighttime scenic tourism resources, improvement of port excursion products, and strengthening of systems to accommodate foreign visitors. Sokcho City announced that these suggestions will be actively reflected in future policies.
On the same day, the "Special Journeys, Special Stories" event featured participants sharing heartfelt stories. These included a couple’s first trip together for their 50th wedding anniversary, a journey to celebrate a husband’s recovery after major surgery, a filial trip prepared by the youngest daughter with her part-time earnings, and a trip with a mother recovering from illness. The event was filled with empathy and applause.
In a satisfaction survey conducted after the experience group program, 46.5% of respondents said they were "very satisfied" and 42.4% said they were "satisfied," meaning 88.9% gave a positive evaluation overall. Onboard services such as performances were cited as the most satisfying aspect (54.1%), followed by onboard facilities (22.9%). However, 59.4% expressed disappointment with the port excursions, highlighting the need to diversify tourism products in the future.
Choi Sunghyun, CEO of the Gangwon Tourism Organization, stated, "Through this experience group, in which residents and citizens participated directly, we were able to reaffirm the value and potential of cruise tourism. Going forward, we will enhance port-of-call content and strengthen overseas promotion so that Sokcho Port can become the hub of cruise tourism in the East Sea region."
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