Chuncheon Achieves First-Class Rating in Regional Tourism Development Index, Ranks Third Nationwide

Ranked Third Among 151 Basic Local Governments Nationwide... Maintains First-Class Rating for Second Consecutive Time

First Nationwide in Tourism Capacity, Fifth in Tourism Consumption Power... Demonstrating Competitiveness in Stay-Type Tourism

Identifying the Need to Strengthen Tourism Policy Capability; Expanding Tourism Budget and Restructuring DMO

Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province, ranked third overall among all basic local governments nationwide and achieved a first-class rating for the second consecutive time in the “2025 Regional Tourism Development Index” assessment, as announced by the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute, a policy research agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Chuncheon City Hall exterior view.

The Regional Tourism Development Index is a nationwide tourism evaluation indicator that compares and analyzes the tourism competitiveness of metropolitan and basic local governments based on common criteria. It comprehensively evaluates factors such as tourism capacity, tourism consumption power, and tourism policy capability, and is published every two years.

In this assessment, Chuncheon City recorded a comprehensive score of 104.82, significantly exceeding the national average of 86.07. This represents a 7.5-point increase from the city’s 97.32 score in the 2023 assessment. Out of 151 basic local governments nationwide, Chuncheon ranked third, following Gangneung City, and secured second place within Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.

In particular, Chuncheon ranked first nationwide in the tourism capacity category. Tourism capacity assesses the level of tourism infrastructure and resources, including accommodations, dining, and information systems, that are required to receive tourists. Chuncheon scored 118.07 points, earning recognition for having the highest level of tourism infrastructure competitiveness in the country.

Chuncheon was also ranked fifth nationwide and first within Gangwon Province in the tourism consumption power category. Tourism consumption power evaluates factors such as tourist visits, spending, and tourism industry growth. Chuncheon achieved a score of 110.14, reflecting its strong competitiveness in expanding tourist stays and enhancing tourism consumption.

Strengthening Competitiveness in “Stay-Type Tourism” as a City Where Tourists Remain

Chuncheon City analyzed that strengthening competitiveness in stay-type tourism played a key role in this assessment. The city views these results as evidence that its efforts have gone beyond simply increasing tourist numbers, demonstrating that the foundation for stay-type tourism and the structure for tourism consumption are producing tangible outcomes.

The city has been continuously implementing various projects to expand tourist stay durations and activate urban tourism. It is focusing on strengthening tourist routes that link Gongjicheon Stream, Soyang River, Uiam Lake, Nami Island, and the original downtown, as well as expanding content that encourages tourists to experience and stay in various parts of the city.

Notably, the traditional stamp tour, previously focused on a single type of activity, has been expanded and reorganized into local exploration, photo stamp, and mobile stamp formats to encourage tourist movement and consumption. The city is also expanding nighttime tourism content and programs linked to local festivals.

By operating nighttime attractions such as “Chunpoong Night Market” at Chuncheon Traditional Market, the Saturday Lightning Night Market, and the Hupyeong Night Market, the city is working to increase tourist stay durations and revitalize the original downtown commercial district. Furthermore, the city is developing tourism products that connect foreign tourists visiting Nami Island to urban tourism, accommodations, dining, and experience programs. Strategies to attract foreign tourists also include experiential tourism taxi promotions, marketing in partnership with overseas influencers and travel platforms, and expanding tourism packages linked to the Seoul metropolitan area.

Strengthening Tourism Policy Capability: Building a Sustainable Tourism City

While Chuncheon has secured top-tier competitiveness nationwide in terms of tourism infrastructure and tourism consumption, the city identified the need to further enhance its policy implementation system and organizational capacity. The tourism policy capability category evaluates factors such as tourism-related budgets, organizational management, public-private cooperation systems, and promotional achievements. Based on this assessment, Chuncheon plans to accelerate efforts to strengthen its tourism policy implementation system and organizational competence.

To begin with, the city plans to gradually increase the tourism budget and actively participate in public project applications by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Tourism Organization to secure more national and provincial funding. Through these efforts, Chuncheon intends to continuously develop tourism content, expand promotional and marketing activities, and improve tourism infrastructure.

The city will also proceed in earnest with the restructuring of its Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), a body that brings together local government, the private sector, and the tourism industry to revitalize regional tourism. Chuncheon is conducting research on the necessity and organizational structure of the DMO with the goal of building a sustainable tourism promotion system based on public-private cooperation.

An official from Chuncheon City stated, “This assessment is significant in that it recognizes Chuncheon as a competitive stay-type tourism city where tourists remain and spend. Moving forward, we will continue to expand tourism infrastructure and content, while strengthening our tourism policy system to establish the foundation for a sustainable tourism city.”

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