Jeonnam, the Winter Training Mecca, to Attract 350,000 Visitors This Winter

Jeollanam-do Sees 45% Increase in Athlete Visits Year-on-Year
Attracts 1,548 Teams, Generates Economic Impact of 33 Billion KRW

Soccer players training during their visit to Gangjin. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeollanam-do is gaining attention as a winter training destination for sports athletes.

According to Jeollanam-do on the 3rd, during the last winter season (December 2024 to February 2025), 1,548 teams from 29 sports disciplines, totaling 350,000 athletes, visited Jeollanam-do for off-season training and participation in sports competitions. As a result, the region achieved an economic ripple effect of 33 billion KRW.

This represents a 45% increase compared to the same period last year (240,000 people). It is analyzed that Jeollanam-do's heightened recognition is largely due to the successful hosting of a nationwide off-season training team invitation briefing and familiarization tour for coaches and managers from other metropolitan and provincial governments, which was the first of its kind among local governments at the end of last year.

The main sports for off-season training were soccer, baseball, athletics, and tennis, accounting for 80% of all visitors. By region, teams came from Gyeonggi, Seoul, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk, and Gwangju in that order.

With abundant tourism resources, a mild winter climate, and delicious Namdo cuisine as its strengths, Jeollanam-do plans to continue building optimal sports infrastructure this year by selecting cities and counties with outstanding performance in attracting teams and supporting incentives for the renovation of sports facilities. The province will also actively promote marketing in cooperation with local governments.

In addition, cities and counties plan to implement various support measures to attract off-season training teams, such as reducing public sports facility usage fees, providing local gift certificates, supporting accommodation, meal, snack, and transportation costs, supplying sports equipment, offering tourism experiences, and supporting the hosting costs of Stove League events.

Yoo Hyeonho, Director of the Jeollanam-do Tourism and Sports Bureau, said, "We will revitalize Jeollanam-do by attracting off-season training teams and further strengthen our efforts to promote sports tourism."

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