The provinces of Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong) and Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong) have inaugurated a pilot operation for a new super-regional intercity bus service. This new route directly links Cheongju International Airport (CJJ), a key transportation hub in Chungbuk, with the heart of the Baekje Cultural Area in Chungnam—the cities of Gongju and Buyeo. The service commenced its trial run on October 27.

This initiative is a cornerstone of the "Super-regional Tourism Transportation Innovation Leading Zone Project," jointly spearheaded by the two provincial governments. The primary objective is to significantly enhance accessibility for foreign tourists arriving at Cheongju International Airport, allowing them to travel quickly and easily to the core heritage sites of the ancient Baekje Kingdom located in Gongju and Buyeo.

Streamlining Travel: From Four Hours to Two

The newly established inter-regional route operates between Cheongju International Airport, Osong Station, Gongju Terminal, and Buyeo Terminal, with eight scheduled round trips daily. This single route eliminates the need for tourists to undertake an average of three transfers previously required to reach the Baekje sites. More dramatically, the travel time from Cheongju International Airport to Gongju and Buyeo is expected to be slashed from a cumbersome four hours down to a mere two hours.

The government of Chungnam-do anticipates that this substantial improvement in transportation accessibility will significantly boost the number of visitors to the Baekje Cultural Area and stimulate the growth of stay-over tourism in the region. Given the focus on international visitors, the province plans to implement robust multilingual support services for the booking and payment systems, as well as for tourism information dissemination.

Expanding Mobility: Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT)

Further enhancing the travel experience, a Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) service is also scheduled for a pilot launch in Gongju and Buyeo starting next month. This customized transport service is specifically designed for foreign tourists and other visitors. Upon arrival at the Gongju or Buyeo terminals, tourists will be able to use a mobile application to call a vehicle to their desired location and time. This will facilitate effortless travel to major historical attractions such as the Gongsanseong Fortress and the Jeongnimsa Temple Site, offering a tailored and convenient way to explore the local heritage.

Unifying the Chungcheong Region as a Single Tourist Zone

An official from the Chungnam-do government stated that the introduction of the super-regional intercity bus is a critical step in alleviating tourism transportation inconveniences and, fundamentally, in consolidating the Chungcheong region into a unified tourist zone. "We are committed to providing the best possible service to actively promote the revitalization of tourism within the Baekje Cultural Area," the official emphasized. The strategic cooperation between Chungbuk and Chungnam provinces marks a major governmental effort to leverage improved infrastructure for economic and cultural benefits, positioning the Baekje heritage sites as easily accessible, world-class destinations. This initiative is expected to set a new standard for inter-provincial cooperation in regional tourism development.

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