The Donghae Cultural Tourism Foundation has successfully concluded a familiarization tour for major Taiwanese travel agencies, aiming to expand its reach to Taiwanese tourists and develop new tourism products. The three-day tour, held from June 24th to 26th, was meticulously planned in close cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization's Taiwan branch. Five Taiwanese outbound travel agencies, including Ohbok Travel, participated, directly experiencing Donghae City's diverse attractions.
This familiarization tour is seen as a strategic move for Donghae City to emerge as a global tourist destination, adapting to the evolving Taiwanese tourism market. Recently, due to the influence of K-dramas and the Hallyu wave, there's been a surge in interest and demand among Taiwanese tourists for Korean provincial towns and themed travel. Breaking away from past group tours centered around the metropolitan area, there's a noticeable trend of individual travelers seeking to deeply experience the unique culture and nature of specific regions. The Donghae Cultural Tourism Foundation plans to actively leverage this trend by strengthening customized local marketing and focusing on developing day tours and standalone products for Online Travel Agencies (OTAs).
The familiarization tour group directly visited and experienced Donghae City's major tourist attractions, savoring its unique charm. Key destinations included Dodamgia Valley Sky Valley, which boasts thrilling activities and stunning views of the East Sea, and Mureungbyeolyucheonji, showcasing the miracle of a transformed mine.
Dodamgia Valley Sky Valley is a tourist spot located between Mukho Lighthouse and Wolso Taekji, named after "Dodamgi," a dialect word for "Goblin." This area features a skywalk that feels like walking in the sky, along with various experiential facilities like a giant slide and sky cycle, offering visitors both exhilaration and a mesmerizing ocean view. Notably, the "Dodamgi Festa" is held at night during evening openings, adding a mysterious atmosphere.
Mureungbyeolyucheonji is a unique attraction that was once a limestone mining site for Ssangyong C&E and has been transformed into Korea's first complex experiential amusement park. Two emerald-colored lakes harmonize with a purple lavender garden, boasting a scenic beauty befitting its name, "A celestial land away from the mundane world." Various experiential facilities such as a sky glider, alpine coaster, off-road luge, and roller coaster-type zip line are available, ensuring enjoyment for all ages. Especially in June each year, a lavender festival is held, allowing visitors to create special memories amidst the fragrance of nature and romantic scenery.
In addition to experiencing the tourist sites, a B2B meeting was held with Donghae City's tourism industry during the familiarization tour, where practical cooperation measures to attract Taiwanese tourists were discussed in depth. The Donghae Cultural Tourism Foundation plans to use this familiarization tour to directly promote Donghae City's attractions to Taiwanese travel agency representatives and build networking for local travel product development, thereby further solidifying the foundation for attracting Taiwanese tourists.
A foundation official stated, "Through this familiarization tour, we were able to actively promote Donghae City's unique tourism resources and potential to the Taiwanese market." They added, "We will continue to do our best to develop customized tourism products that reflect the needs of Taiwanese tourists and conduct continuous local marketing to ensure Donghae City establishes itself as a new hub for extended stays." Amidst growing interest in travel to smaller Korean cities fueled by the Hallyu wave, Donghae City's proactive efforts are expected to significantly invigorate the attraction of Taiwanese tourists.
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