Visitors to Gangwon-do Show Interest in 'Hidden Gems' Over Popular Tourist Spots

Cheorwon 'Sundam Valley', Wonju 'Bangyeri Ginkgo Tree', and Donghae 'Eodal Port' Stand Out

[Gangwon-do Tourism Foundation]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Tourists visiting Gangwon-do have shown greater interest in lesser-known local attractions compared to the region's representative tourist sites.

According to the analysis of Gangwon tourism trends in November by the Gangwon Tourism Foundation on the 29th, Sundam Valley in Cheorwon saw a 2,947% increase in visitors compared to last year and a 371% increase compared to the previous month, following the opening of the Hantan River columnar jointing trail and facility improvements in November this year.

This increase is attributed not only to the rise in visitors but also to longer stays of over 30 minutes and increased visits to nearby attractions such as Eunhasu Bridge.

The ginkgo tree in Banggyeri, Wonju, which was previously ranked outside the top 100 in navigation searches within Gangwon-do, rose to 45th place for the first time in November, emerging as a new tourist attraction in the province.

It gained popularity as a hot place through SNS this year, with related posts increasing significantly in November, leading to a 152% rise in search volume compared to the previous month, which translated into increased tourist numbers.

East Sea's Eodal Port recorded about an 80% increase in tourists compared to the same period last year, influenced by the Mukho tourism zone including Mukho and Nongoldam-gil.

Cafes around Eodal Beach have been rediscovered as photo spots, notably increasing visits by women in their 20s. Eodal Port was selected for the 'Fishing Village New Deal 300' project in 2019, promoting the discovery and development of region-specific content.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists in cities and counties across Gangwon decreased in November compared to October. Cheorwon County had the lowest decrease rate (△12.5%), while Inje County had the highest (△40.3%).

In particular, cities and counties in the Naeseorak area showed a relatively large decline due to a decrease in autumn foliage tourists. Additionally, tourist numbers in cities and counties near national parks such as Seoraksan and Odaesan also decreased more significantly compared to other areas.

The number of visitors in November decreased by about 2.69 million compared to the previous month, showing a 21% decline, but increased by about 980,000 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a 10.9% growth rate.

The decrease compared to the previous month is presumed to be due to the fact that the number of holidays was four days shorter than in October and the seasonal effect of the end of peak autumn foliage.

Tourism consumption amounted to approximately 164.4 billion KRW, down about 8.2% from October, showing a decrease of about 14.7 billion KRW, but increased by about 11.9% compared to last year, rising by 17.5 billion KRW, indicating an increase in per capita tourist spending.

A representative from the Gangwon Tourism Foundation stated, "In November, traditionally an off-season, hidden tourist attractions within Gangwon are transforming into nationally recognized sites, helping attract tourists and revitalize the local economy."

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