Local spots want tourists and their dollars this summer

Social Affairs

Published: 07 Jul. 2022, 18:40 Updated: 07 Jul. 2022, 18:41

Local spots want tourists and their dollars this summer

Tourists play catch the tail at the 2022 Boryeong Mud Festival at Daecheon Beach in Daecheon, on June 29. [YONHAP]

Although Covid-19 is not over, local governments are coming up with various strategies to attract tourists as they welcome a summer season without social distancing.

Beaches along the East Coast in the province of Gangwon are allowing tourists to swim at night.

According to the provincial government on Thursday, Gyeongpo and Sokcho beaches will allow night swimming until 9 p.m. The decision came as the number of tourists visiting the beach at night has been rising with the recent heatwave. Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius have kept vacationers away from the beaches during the day.

Gyeongpo Beach in the province’s Gangneung City, which will open on Friday, is allowing night swimming for the first time this year. The 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. opening time will be extended to 9 p.m. from July 22 to August 7. For safety's sake, the city installed three 25-meter-high lighting towers.

“There are 30 LED floodlights attached to each tower, so tourists will be able to enjoy playing in the water without much inconvenience at night,” said a city official.

Sokcho Beach, which is scheduled to open Saturday, will also allow swimming until 9 p.m. at night from July 23 to Aug. 7.

Seven other beaches in Gangneung — Jumunjin, Okgye, Jeongdongjin, Sagunjin, Gangmun, Anmok, and Sacheonjin — and Mangsang and Chuam beaches in Donghae City will extend their swimming times from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Some cities are giving cash incentives to attract tourists.

Danyang County in North Chungcheong came up with a project called Danyang Random Mission Travel, giving 100,000 won ($76) for travel expenses per team. Tourists will be able to win subsidies after visiting major tourist spots proposed by the county, such as Dodamsambong Peaks, Mancheonha Skywalk, Guinsa Temple, and Danyanggang Jando Trail, and posting photos on their social media.

Residents from outside Danyang over the age of 17 can participate, and teams can be from two to eight people. The county will give cash to up to 500 teams on a first-come, first-served basis from July 4 to the end of the year.

Foreign tourists in groups will be able to receive financial support if they stay in the southern port city of Ulsan.

According to the city government, the criteria for accommodation incentives for foreign tourists will be eased from the current eight or more people to five or more people. Each person can receive 20,000 won per night to a maximum of 60,000 won (for three nights).

Groups with fewer than five people who visit Ulsan by rail and use a rental car or a shared vehicle in the city are eligible for 20,000 won to 40,000 won payments per car.

Some local governments are holding summer festivals.

Bonghwa County in North Gyeongsang is holding the Bonghwa Ayu Festival from July 30 to Aug. 7.

The festival will feature events such as catching Ayu, a kind of fish, with bare hands, grilling and eating Ayu, a food market, concerts, and street performances.

Gyeongpo Beach is holding the 2022 Gyeongpo Beach Beer Festival for three days from Friday.

Beaches in Busan have been holding numerous events since July 1 to attract vacationers.

Gwangalli Beach offers a car-free main street for two hours on weekend nights during summer. No vehicles are allowed along the beach.

A drone show involving 500 to 1,500 drones, which is performed twice nightly every Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. (7 p.m. and 9 p.m. in winter), paints the night sky of the beach.

On July 2, a special show was performed called Gwangalli During the Summer Vacation. Other performances coming up include Alien Invasion on July 9, Pirates of Gwangalli on July 16, Summer Festival on July 23 and Special Horror Edition on July 30.

BY CHOI JONG-KWON, SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]