Gangwon Province Launches New Tourism Infrastructure to Drive Success of the Year of Visiting Gangwon

Four Tourism Infrastructure Projects Worth KRW 160 Billion Completed
Four New Tourism Infrastructure Projects Worth KRW 100 Billion Launched
World Masters Table Tennis Championships and ITS World Congress to Be Held

Gangwon Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced on January 12 that the number of visitors to the province in 2025 is expected to reach 154.6 million, an increase of approximately 4.8 million (up 3.2% year-on-year) compared to the previous year. The province also stated that it plans to successfully promote the Year of Visiting Gangwon by expanding tourism infrastructure and hosting mega-events.

A view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

First, four tourism development projects are scheduled for completion this year: ▲ The Gangneung Tourism Hub City Development Project (KRW 91.9 billion), ▲ The Goseong Underwater Landscape District Project (KRW 48.4 billion), ▲ The Jeongseon Arirang Village Project (KRW 12 billion), and ▲ The Samcheok Daeiri Cave Area Tourism Hub Project (KRW 8.2 billion).

Additionally, four large-scale tourism infrastructure projects will be promoted this year, totaling KRW 107.8 billion: ▲ Construction of the Gangneung Firefighters’ Mental and Physical Training Center (KRW 43.8 billion), ▲ Construction of the Yangyang Marine Sports Indoor Training Center (KRW 40 billion), ▲ Development of the Yeongwol Byeolmaro Observatory and Bongrae Mountain as a tourism hub (KRW 12 billion), and ▲ The Inje Speedium Tourism Hub Project (KRW 12 billion).

These projects are expected to begin this year and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of marine tourism along the East Coast, as well as securing new tourism hubs in the inland areas of Gangwon.

Furthermore, a series of international mega-events will be held throughout the first and second halves of this year.

In June, the World Masters Table Tennis Championships will be held at Gangneung Olympic Park, with approximately 4,000 participants from over 100 countries. In October, the Gangneung ITS World Congress will take place in the same area, with around 200,000 attendees expected from about 90 countries.

The province expects these events to generate significant ripple effects for the local economy, particularly in tourism consumption such as accommodation and food services.

Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, stated, "This year, four tourism infrastructure projects totaling KRW 160 billion will be completed, and four new tourism infrastructure projects worth KRW 100 billion will be launched within the year. In addition, with two mega-events being held, we will implement what is known as the 4-4-2 strategy to ensure the success of the Year of Visiting Gangwon."