Wando-gun Ranks First in Overall Summer Vacation Satisfaction

Myeongsasimni Advance Reservation System, Positive Evaluations for Quarantine and Pleasant Environment Including Marine Healing

Wando, the Best Travel Destination in the COVID Era Choosing Nature over City and Rest over Tourism

Wando Sinji Myeongsasipri Beach, the first in the country to operate a reservation system in advance (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyungpil] According to the results of the ‘2020 Summer Vacation Travel Survey’ conducted by Consumer Insight, a travel research organization, Wando-gun proudly ranked first among 46 cities and counties with a score of 779 points (out of 1000), an increase of 97 points compared to last year.

The ‘Summer Vacation Travel Survey,’ conducted annually since 2016, surveyed 16,035 people who took at least one overnight domestic trip this year, asking about their main travel destinations, satisfaction levels, and willingness to recommend.

Wando-gun has safely and comfortably maintained Sinji Myeongsashipri Beach, the first in Korea to receive the international certification ‘Blue Flag’ for two consecutive years for its clean and safe beaches, as well as Bogil Yesong-ri and Geumil Myeongsashipri.

Additionally, tourism infrastructure was established around Geumgok Beach on Saengildo Island, selected as a ‘desired island to visit,’ including the opening of a resort-style tourist farm.

In particular, efforts tailored to the COVID-19 era, such as operating Korea’s first advance reservation system for Sinji Myeongsashipri Beach’s ‘Beach by Day, Culture by Night’ program and marine healing programs, are analyzed to have had a positive impact.

Furthermore, the demolition of abandoned beach shops created Muscle Beach and a park, and the implementation of a three-stage quarantine system for the safety of residents and vacationers appears to have played a significant role in the evaluation.

The three-stage quarantine system involves first checking temperatures at Wando Bridge, the gateway to Wando; second, at the main entrance of the beach; and third, using drones to analyze crowd density on the sandy beach and encourage dispersal. This was reported as an excellent COVID-19 quarantine case at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in July.

Another noteworthy point is that Wando led the trend of enjoying the beach during the day and culture at night, called the ‘Cultural Beach.’

From July 31 to August 9, a multiplex cinema was operated on Myeongsashipri Beach, and a large electronic billboard was installed on the sandy beach to promote county administration, video letters, and song requests during the day, which received great responses.

Moreover, the drive-in theater, piloted for the first time nationwide in the beach parking lot, confirmed the potential for new tourism content.

In addition, a total of 3,134 people participated in marine healing programs such as Pilates, Nordic walking, sand therapy, kelp mask pack experience, and meditation over 24 days starting July 24, with high satisfaction among participants.

This year, the number of beach visitors was 580,000, and despite operating about 10 days shorter than last year, the daily average number of visitors increased by 2,500.

County Governor Shin Woo-cheol said, “Ranking first in summer vacation travel satisfaction is the result of public-private cooperation to cultivate a safe and pleasant beach. We will continue to strive to maintain the status of the top domestic travel destination and develop various tourism contents that can be enjoyed in Wando’s pristine natural environment.”

Meanwhile, Sinji Myeongsashipri Beach was selected as a preliminary open tourist site for 2020 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and is promoting convenience facility improvement projects for vulnerable tourists such as the disabled, elderly, and infants.

Once the project is completed, it is expected to receive open tourist site certification in January next year and gain momentum for the upcoming ‘2021 Wando Visit Year’ campaign.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.