2019.6.12 Travel Calendar
Everland, Gyeonggi
Through June 16
One of the country’s most popular theme parks is opening up its gardens for a flower-filled event to welcome the warmer weather. The 35th edition of the park’s Rose Festival features about one million roses of 720 different varieties in an area that’s about 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) large. The garden is filled with different items, such as an arch decorated with roses to create a romantic ambience. Every Saturday, visitors will have the chance to make their own rose-scented perfumes for free. The program will be available four times a day on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visitors have to sign up on the spot.
For more information, go to www.everland.com.
Baekdam Temple in Gangwon
June 22-23
To help bolster tourism to Gangwon after the region was damaged by wildfires earlier this year, the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddism is working with Korail Tourism Development to offer train travel packages to temples in the northeastern province. These programs also include tours of nearby towns, markets and scenic areas.
The overnight trip begins at Yongsan Station and takes travelers to Baekdam Temple in Inje County for an overnight stay. The trip includes a visit to the Skywalk by the Soyang River as well as a birch tree forest. The package costs 89,000 won ($75) for adults and 74,000 won children.
To make a reservation as well as learn more information, visit www.koreailtravel.com or call 1544-7755.
Families enjoy the Skyline Luge Tongyeong in South Gyeongsang. The organizer plans to add more seats to its chairlift to take visitors to the top of the hill for downhill rides, so that thrill seekers don’t have to wait too long. The luge service will be closed temporarily from June 16 to 21 for renovations. [SKYLINE LUGE TONGYEONG]
Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang
Ongoing except June 16 to 21
Since opening in 2017, the Skyline Luge Tongyeong has given over four million rides and was recently featured in Korea’s Top 100 Must Visit Tourist Spots - the only attraction of its kind to make the coveted list. Not one to rest on their laurels, Skyline Luge is continuing to enhance their facilities and services to deliver a premium experience to guests. It is a unique gravity-fueled ride in a cart that provides riders full control over their descent on tracks complete with twists, turns and tunnels.
This month, Skyline Luge plans to upgrade their chairlift from 32 to 41 chairs, increasing their capacity to 2,000 people per hour. The increased number of chairlifts is set to reduce queue times allowing guests more time to enjoy the Luge. Skyline Luge Tongyeong is expected to be closed from June 16 to 21 while the planned upgrades take place.
The luge itself is also under development and will see the introduction of two new tracks this winter. Once construction is finished, Skyline Luge Tongyeong will become Korea’s largest luge, boasting four tracks that total over 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in distance.
In addition, the attraction also recently launched its new online ticketing system. Mobile eTickets purchased via the Skyline Luge website can be scanned for quick and easy access providing seamless entry to the luge.
Skyline Luge has also revealed that they will be opening up their second Korean site, Skyline Luge Busan, in 2021, in partnership with Lotte and GS retail at the new Osiria theme park. The company has also announced plans for additional luge developments in Asia and Europe.
Skyline Enterprises operates predominantly in the leisure and entertainment fields both in New Zealand and overseas, with businesses including Skyline Queenstown, Skyline Rotorua, Skyline Properties, The Helicopter Line, Mitre Peak Cruises, Christchurch Casino and Skyline International Luge.
Singapore
Nov. 29, 30, and Dec. 1
The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) announced that the 2019 edition of the race will upgrade the athlete experience with a new 6 p.m. evening flag off on Nov. 30 for the Marathon, Half Marathon and Ekiden distances for three days. The Kids Dash will take place on Friday November 29, while the 5K and 10k races will take place on Dec. 1 providing a distance for everyone.
These steps were taken to further the appeal of the race for participants and spectators and is a significant step towards the goal of SCSM being inducted into the illustrious Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM), a series of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world. If successful, SCSM would become the seventh marathon within AbbottWMM joining the BMW Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, TCS New York City Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon.
“Since announcing the bid to join the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2017, we’ve been working closely with our respective partners to improve the Singapore race experience for both runners and spectators. We have consulted Sport Singapore and the relevant government agencies and they have shared their support for the night race,” said Geoff Meyer, managing director for The Ironman Group in Asia. “Enhancements are happening every year to build up the event festivities as well as programs and initiatives that promote the running culture and community engagement in Singapore. We are now closer than ever to the required criteria and strongly believe that the change in flag-off time, and a number of other improvements over the next two editions will see more marathoners and community support than ever as we position ourselves to qualify in 2021.”
The SCSM has been recognized as a Gold Label event by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) since 2012 for its world-class excellence in global sporting significance, organizational quality, athletes’ safety and compliance with the IAAF Rules and Regulations.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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