Over 90,000 Visitors at Gangwon Beach in One Day... Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread at Summer Resorts

Over 230,000 Cumulative Summer Visitors Since the 9th
26% Increase Compared to the Same Period Last Year
Concerns Over COVID-19 'Balloon Effect'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The East Coast Headquarters of Gangwon Province announced that on the 17th, the first weekend after all the beaches in the Gangwon area opened, approximately 91,160 visitors came to 82 beaches along the East Coast in one day.

By region, the number of visitors was 19,329 in Gangneung City, 17,233 in Donghae City, 15,903 in Sokcho City, 14,641 in Samcheok City, 9,455 in Goseong County, and 14,601 in Yangyang County. By beach, the numbers were 6,532 at Gyeongpodae, 12,139 at Mangsang, 13,251 at Sokcho, and 8,005 at Naksan, among others.

Starting with the beaches in Yangyang on the 9th and including those in Gangneung and Goseong that opened on the 16th, the cumulative number of visitors to East Coast beaches this summer reached 236,931. This represents a 25.9% (48,732) increase compared to 188,199 visitors during the same period last year.

However, the number of visitors to beaches in Gangneung decreased by 35.6%, from 42,329 last year to 27,252 this year. This decline is attributed to the fact that four beaches that opened last year did not open this year, as well as the recent increase in COVID-19 confirmed cases.

On this day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in six cities and counties along the Gangwon East Coast exceeded 30, continuing from the 16th. As confirmed cases continue to rise along the East Coast, local areas that had hoped for economic revitalization during the vacation season are now concerned about a balloon effect caused by the fourth wave of COVID-19.

In Gangneung, the spread of COVID-19 continues, with 21 confirmed cases on the 16th and 26 cases reported by 6 p.m. on the 17th. Accordingly, Gangneung City urgently raised social distancing to Level 3 starting at midnight on the 17th and limited private gatherings to four people. Other local governments along the East Coast are also reported to be making every effort to prevent the spread of confirmed cases through thorough quarantine measures.

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