Yanggu County's "Half-Price Travel" Pays Off... "Honey Travel Festa" Draws 4,000 Visitors in Major Success

Over 4,000 Visitors in Two Months... Economic Impact 3.3 Times the Budget
Yanggu "Honey Travel Festa" Presents a Successful Stay-Type Tourism Model
DMO-Led Initiative Realizes a Sustainable Tourism Ecosystem

Yanggu County in Gangwon Province reported that the "Yanggu Honey Travel Festa," which began in September, generated an economic impact more than three times the invested budget within just two months. This initiative, led by the Yanggu Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), was designed as a stay-type tourism model. Under the "half-price travel" scheme, participants received back 50% of their spending (up to 100,000 won) on accommodation, meals, and attractions in the form of Yanggu Love gift certificates.

Age distribution of applicants for the "Yanggu Honey Travel Festa." Provided by Yanggu County

The Honey Travel Festa, which started on September 12, quickly drew high interest, closing applications for its target of 500 participants within a month. A total of 567 people applied, and as of November 6, 267 had completed the settlement process. Of the participants, 84.3% were residents of the greater Seoul area, with 44.9% from Gyeonggi Province, 33.7% from Seoul, and 5.6% from Incheon. Most visitors traveled with their families, bringing the actual number of visitors to over 1,000. By age group, those in their 40s accounted for the largest share at 33.7%, followed by those in their 30s and 50s at 24.3% each.

Kim Mijeong (42), who visited Yanggu with her family from Nowon-gu, Seoul, shared, "I came after hearing that we could get up to 100,000 won back for staying at least one night in Yanggu. We visited the Park Soo Keun Art Museum and bought local specialties, so it felt like our travel expenses were cut in half."

The total spending by the 267 participants who completed settlement reached 57.05 million won, with 24.55 million won paid out in gift certificates, resulting in a consumption effect 2.3 times the payout. The average spending per person was 213,677 won, which is 21.4% higher than the average for rural accommodation trips (175,944 won).

If all applicants complete the settlement process, direct consumption is expected to reach about 120 million won, with the total economic effect, including gift certificates, surpassing 170 million won. This represents a result 3.3 times greater than the invested budget. A Yanggu County official noted, "Since local spending is required to receive the cashback, it provided direct support to local businesses."

Yanggu DMO designed the program not only to attract tourists but also to expand the area's resident population by encouraging participants to register as "Yanggu Love Cyber Citizens." All participants were required to register as cyber citizens, and day trips were not allowed; at least one night had to be spent at a partner accommodation. As a result, the number of new cyber citizens increased by 1,198 in two months, bringing the total to 4,065.

'Yanggu Honey Travel Festa' Yanggu Love Cyber Citizens. Provided by Yanggu County

A Yanggu DMO representative said, "The key to our success was that the DMO directly built a cooperative network among accommodations, restaurants, and attractions, and introduced an on-site instant settlement system. This allowed us to increase traveler satisfaction and drive local spending in real time." A Yanggu County official added, "This Festa is not just a simple discount event but a sustainable tourism model created jointly by residents and the private sector. We plan to develop it as a best practice that combines the DMO's expertise with local participation."

The "Korean Peninsula Farm Flea Market," held in conjunction with the Yanggu Honey Travel Festa, also received a positive response. Sixteen businesses participated, with residents creating their own signs and booths. The event recorded sales of about 21 million won and attracted more than 4,000 visitors.

Seo Heungwon, the mayor of Yanggu County, stated, "We aim to make Korean Peninsula Island a center for stay-type tourism. We will build a sustainable tourism ecosystem where residents, the private sector, and the government grow together."

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