Gangwon-do Participates in Japan's Wellness Tourism Expo, Focusing on Attracting Japanese Tourists

【江陵聯合ニュース】Gangwon-do, Wonju City, and Chuncheon City will jointly participate in the 'International Wellness Tourism Expo' to be held in Tokyo from August 8th to 10th, making every effort to attract Japanese tourists.

Gangwon-do will focus on promoting Gangwon-do's wellness tourism attractions and food culture to Japan's main consumer group, those in their 20s and 30s, during the event. They plan to introduce various tourism products, including wellness-related products and content, to attract Japanese tourists.

To this end, Gangwon-do plans to designate major Japanese travel agencies, such as H.I.S and Yomiuri Travel, as 'Wellness Partner Travel Agencies' and actively work on attracting Japanese tourists. They will actively cooperate in the development and marketing of wellness tourism products.

At this exhibition, Gangwon-do plans to introduce Gangwon tourism attractions such as the PyeongChang Winter Olympics legacy 'PyeongChang BIG 3+ (PyeongChang, Jeongseon High 1)' and the Gangneung Rail Bike, while also showcasing a variety of experiential programs that combine winter sports and entertainment.

A Gangwon-do official said, "Through this expo, we will introduce the charms of Gangwon-do's tourism resources to the Japanese people and introduce various wellness tourism products to do our best to attract Japanese tourists."

Gangwon-do is making every effort to establish itself as a winter sports tourism mecca enjoyed by people all over the world, including the Japanese. They plan to brand Gangwon tourism resources, which have gained international recognition since the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and strive to create sustainable tourism legacies.

To this end, Gangwon-do is strengthening winter tourism promotion to China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, while also focusing on attracting international sports events, conventions, and events. They are also holding the 'Ski Korea Festival' at five ski resorts in the province for foreign tourists, focusing on tourism product development through product experience and introductions of local culture and cuisine.

They are also operating unique programs combining winter sports and culture. This project, called the 'Dream Program,' invites young people from countries where winter sports are not developed to provide ski and snowboard lessons and cultural experiences. This program has received high praise from the IOC, and 109 young people from 25 countries participated this year.

Through these efforts, Gangwon-do plans to present a new model of winter sports and leisure tourism and rise as a global winter tourism hub. Based on its natural environment and sports infrastructure, it is gaining attention as a true center of 'wellness tourism' where tourism, leisure, and culture coexist.