"2026 Geochang On Spring Festival" Transforms into a Destination for Extended Stays

Targeting 60,000 Visitors... Direct Strategies to Boost the Local Economy

Combining Half-Price Travel with Healing Content

Geochang County in South Gyeongsang Province is taking concrete steps to transform itself into a destination for extended-stay tourism, using the "2026 Geochang On Spring Festival" as a catalyst. The county announced that it established a master plan in February, finalized an official slogan in March, and held a project kick-off briefing on April 7 to specify its direction and implementation plans.

Additionally, three working-level meetings were held with the participation of service providers, civic groups, and public officials to review the festival programs and operational plans. Since April 20, the county has systematically launched its promotional campaign using various media channels, including IPTV and YouTube.

This year's festival aims to move beyond simple sightseeing and transform Geochang into a "destination for staying and spending." Scheduled to run from May 14 to May 17 at the Changpowon area in Geochang, the event will serve as the region's signature spring festival by integrating the Arimia Flower Festival, Wild Ginseng Festival, and Barefoot Walking Event. Under the theme of "Healing and Changpo," the festival will offer a combination of nature-based healing and experiential programs.

[Photo provided by Geochang County] Photo of visitors at Changpowyun

◆ Targeting 60,000 Visitors... Encouraging Longer Stays and Spending with Half-Price Travel

Geochang has seen a steady rise in visitor numbers thanks to its excellent natural environment, but there has been a persistent need to increase the average length of stay. In response, the county is restructuring its tourism strategy for the "2026 Year of Visiting Geochang" and is rolling out "Geochang Half-Price Travel" as a flagship policy, which reimburses 50% of travel expenses.

The goal is to establish a tourism structure that extends beyond day visits to include accommodation, dining, and local spending, thereby boosting both the length of stay and regional consumption.

Through this festival, the county aims to attract 60,000 visitors—approximately a 45% increase from the previous year—and expects to generate significant economic impact for the region.

◆ Strengthening Tourism Identity with "Healing and Changpo"

The festival's slogan, "Geochang Colored with Changpo, Embracing Healing!" highlights "healing" and "changpo" (sweet flag) as its core content.

Given that Geochang County was designated as a special healing industry zone in 2025 and has since expanded its tourism infrastructure in this sector, this festival is recognized as a prime example of concentrated healing-oriented tourism content.

Healing programs such as silent yoga and the Mind-Free Challenge will be offered, alongside a promotional zone that showcases the past, present, and future of Changpowon. Participatory content wishing for the designation of a national garden will also be available. In addition, nature-friendly activities such as barefoot walking events have been designed to allow visitors to experience "healing through staying" firsthand.

[Photo by Geochang County] Tourist photo at Changpowon

◆ Linking Local Specialties and Traditional Markets... Revitalizing the Local Economy

The festival is designed as a "spending-oriented tourism model" connected to the local economy. Regional specialties such as wild ginseng and apples, along with a variety of local foods, will be showcased on-site. The county also plans to direct tourist spending toward local businesses through rebate events linked to the Geochang traditional market.

The goal is to create a structure where not only visitor numbers increase, but small business owners and traditional markets can grow together.

◆ Enhanced Safety Management... "A Festival You'll Want to Revisit"

Geochang County is also focusing on thorough pre-event inspections to ensure a safe festival experience.

At the end of April, the county will convene a policy chief-level safety coordination committee to conduct a comprehensive review of its safety management plan and further strengthen crowd control and disaster response systems. In early May, offline promotional efforts will be ramped up with banners, street signs, and posters as the final preparations are completed.

A county official commented, "This spring festival marks the starting point for shifting Geochang tourism toward a focus on extended stays and healing," adding, "We will continue to enhance Geochang's unique tourism competitiveness with differentiated content."

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