Gangwon Tourism Foundation Teams Up with Seoul to Launch Full-Scale Drive to Attract Foreign Tourists

Gangwon Tourism Foundation Hosts 'Healing Tourism FAM Tour' Linking Seoul Metropolitan Area and Gangwon
Demonstrating the Competitiveness of Global Tourism Products Connecting Seoul and Gangwon

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the Foundation) conducted a Gangwon-style healing tourism invitation promotional trip (FAM tour) linked to the '2025-2026 Gangwon Visit Year' to attract global tourists. The event took place from the 26th to the 28th for 2 nights and 3 days around Pyeongchang and Jeongseon.

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Gangwon Tourism Foundation conducted a Gangwon-style healing tourism invitation promotional trip (familiarization tour) linked to the "2025-2026 Gangwon Visit Year" to attract global tourists from the 26th to the 28th for 2 nights and 3 days around Pyeongchang and Jeongseon. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Foundation

This event followed the K-Content-focused Seoul invitation promotional trip (FAM tour) organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization from the 23rd to the 26th. It was part of the 'Seoul-Gangwon Metropolitan Tourism Belt Project,' which combines Seoul's urban tourism content with Gangwon's natural, traditional, and healing resources. Seven representatives from major travel agencies in six Asian countries, including the Philippines and Thailand, participated in the event.

Under the theme of 'Gangwon's Diverse Four Seasons and Gangwon-Style Healing Tourism,' this invitation promotional trip (FAM tour) was composed as a convergent experiential program integrating traditional culture, local sensibilities, and eco-friendly tourism.

On the first day in Pyeongchang, participants visited 'Jeonggangwon,' a Korean traditional food culture center, where they learned about the history and philosophy of Korean traditional cuisine and experienced the value and appeal of Korean food by making dishes themselves. Afterwards, they moved to Daegwallyeong Samyang Roundhill to explore cases of sustainable tourism operations and regional economic revitalization, sharing models of eco-friendly tourism competitiveness and coexistence.

During the subsequent Balwangsan cable car experience, they enjoyed the peak autumn foliage of Pyeongchang and directly experienced the appeal of Gangwon-style nature-based tourism content such as trekking and mountain tourism.

On the second day in Jeongseon, participants visited the 'Jeongseon Five-Day Market' to enjoy local specialties and traditional foods, experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of Korean traditional markets. They also attended the 'Jeongseon Aria Arari Musical,' themed on the traditional Korean folk song 'Arirang,' to immerse themselves in Jeongseon's unique historical, cultural, and artistic identity.

Additionally, participants explored Korean-style healing tourism programs such as tea ceremonies and toured new tourism facilities in Jeongseon, including ski resorts, to consider the potential for developing global tourism products that link accommodation and experiences. At the same time, they confirmed Gangwon's potential and attractiveness as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events.

Based on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2023, Gangwon Tourism Foundation and Seoul Tourism Organization have promoted various collaborative projects, including post-event invitation promotional trips (FAM tours) following the Seoul International Travel Mart (SITM). The Gangwon Tourism Foundation plans to use this program as an opportunity to further expand Seoul-Gangwon linked global tourism products and to continue discovering new content based on healing and localism.

Choi Sunghyun, CEO of Gangwon Tourism Foundation, stated, "Developing ultra-wide-area tourism products connecting Seoul and Gangwon will increase the length of stay for foreign tourists and stimulate local spending, serving as a catalyst for structural improvement and innovative growth in Gangwon tourism. Going forward, we will continue to expand invitation promotional trips (FAM tours) focused on areas with declining populations, such as former mining regions, to consistently promote Gangwon's unique appeal to the global market and actively contribute to regional revitalization and the development of the tourism ecosystem."

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