Governor Kim Donggon’s Stay-Type Tourism Strategy Delivers Results
The tourism policies promoted by Kim Donggon, Governor of Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province, have produced tangible results, as demonstrated by visible figures.
Chilgap Tower, the core facility of the Cheongyang Chilgapho Tourism Hub Project, has attracted nearly 30,000 visitors in just over a month since its opening, generating tourism demand that exceeds the entire population of Cheongyang County.
Cheongyang County announced on the 19th that nearly 30,000 tourists from across the country visited Chilgap Tower in the month following its opening on November 15.
This figure surpasses the county’s population of 29,795 as of November, highlighting the rapid and visible impact of the new tourism attraction.
Chilgap Tower is a six-story experiential tourism facility offering panoramic views of both Chilgapho Lake and Chilgapsan Mountain. Its design goes beyond simple sightseeing, featuring a 57-meter-high, 102-meter-long skywalk and a 600-meter floating walkway, all intended to encourage visitors to stay longer. The county analyzed that this structure, which is aimed at extending visitors’ stays and encouraging repeat visits, is effectively translating into actual demand.
Such achievements are seen as the result of Governor Kim’s consistently implemented stay-type tourism policies since the start of his eighth term in office.
The policy direction to move away from short-term, nature-focused tourism toward a structure that combines experiences and consumption has been realized through Chilgap Tower.
With the increase in tourists, there has also been a rise in the use of restaurants, cafes, and tourist facilities near Chilgapho Lake, as well as a boost in sales of local agricultural and specialty products. This indicates that tourism demand is spreading into the local economy.
There is significant meaning in the fact that the county’s tourism policy is not only attracting visitors but also translating into local income.
The county plans to gradually expand stay-type tourism infrastructure by creating nighttime landscapes around Chilgapho Lake and increasing waterfront camping and experiential facilities.
Additionally, the county aims to generate year-round tourism demand by linking various tourism content.
Governor Kim Donggon stated, "Chilgap Tower is a symbolic example of the achievements of Cheongyang’s tourism policies," adding, "We will continue to create a structure where tourism leads to local economic growth, nurturing it as a new driving force for Cheongyang’s development."
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