Beautiful oceans is waiting for their big moments to attract tourists from all over the world. How is Gyeonggi-do planning to achieve this goal?
Gyeonggi Province has announced it will pursue “Gyeonggi Ocean” initiatives so as to attract visitors to the coastal areas of the province through the utilization of its abundant marine leisure infrastructure, natural environment, and geographic proximity to the metropolitan area.The provincial government has allocated approximately KRW 1.45 billion to six initiatives, including: specialized streets along Gyeonggi coasts; mud roads in the province; support for regional festivals in the province; ocean-themed tour testing; tour bus operation; and Gyeonggi Ocean Travel marketing exhibitions.
Along with the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, the province will first select two specialized streets with the aim of securing attractive tourism content pertaining to the coastal areas of Gyeonggi with the ultimate aim of operating competitive tourism products and programs to foster a regional tourism hub.
In connection with existing tourism initiatives, the province will establish Gyeonggi mud roads that extend for 262 kilometers through the cities of Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Ansan, Siheung, Bucheon, and Gimpo. Gyeonggi will also integrate the operation of various programs in partnership with its cities and counties.
The province will also test run themed two-day tour courses through Gyeonggi coastal areas in connection with notable marine facilities such as Jebu Marina and the Marine Safety Experience Center as well as experiential fishing village programs. Gyeonggi will also operate two tour buses in these areas specifically for foreign tourists.
Additionally, the province will host tourism revitalization events during the months of July and August, exercising due caution in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote the tourism content of Gyeongi’s coasts. Accordingly, the government plans to steadily attract more visitors while and ensuring local economic stability through the continued promotion of marine tourism even during the off-season.
Last year, Gyeonggi produced photographs and video contents featuring its coastal areas and released them online while concurrently holding an online event. In addition, the province has promoted its coastal areas through various channels, such as the operation of the Gyeonggi Ocean Public Relations Center at domestic conferences and exhibitions!
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| Bird's eye view of Siheung Wave Park ⓒGyeonggi Province |
Siheung Wave Park
◆Address: Gyeonggi-do, Siheung-si, Jeongwang 3(sam)-dong, Gubukseom 5-gil 16
The world's largest artificial surfing wave park has opened on Turtle Island in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. Surfing, which previously could only be enjoyed along coastal areas with high waves, such as Jeju, Busan, and Yangyang, will now be possible in the Korean capital region.
On October 7, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jaemyung, along with Siheung City Mayor Lim Byung-taek and Daewon Plus Group Chairman Choi Sam-sup, participated in a ceremony to mark the completion of the Siheung Artificial Surfing Wave Park on Turtle Island. More than 100 people attended the ceremony to mark the launch of this new tourist attraction.
Governor Lee said in his congratulatory speech, "The future was so uncertain that Sihwa Lake was called the Lake of Death, but the administrative reforms of Gyeonggi-do and Siheung-si have achieved results in a short time." Siheung City Mayor Lim Byung-taek said, "If you imagine five years later and ten years later, this place will be transformed into a proud golden coast of Korea."
This Artificial Surfing Wave Park, created by Daewon Plus in conjunction with Spain's Wave Park’s artificial surfing technology, was completed through an investment of approximately KRW 563 billion on 325,300 square-meter site. It will transfer funds to Siheung City after 20 years of operation with 100% private investment. The artificial surfing facility opened on October 7, and the wave pool will open sequentially early in 2021.
Starting with the Siheung Artificial Surfing Wave Park, which is the first stage of development, Daewon Plus Group plans to add a hotel, marina, and Ferris wheel by 2023, creating a global attraction near Turtle Island. Daewon Plus expects the project will have the effect of creating approximately 1,400 jobs directly and 8,400 jobs indirectly.
Gyeonggi Province's behind-the-scenes efforts enabled the early completion of the artificial surfing site, which was originally scheduled to open as early as the end of 2020. The project to create an artificial surfing site was not in line with the current laws regarding the installation of sports facilities in its early stages, and so the project itself was on the verge of collapse. The artificial surfing site was being introduced for the first time in Korea, but surfing grounds had not been specified among the 45 installable facilities prescribed by related laws.
Accordingly, the province formed a task force team with a public-private joint consultative body and consulted with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In recognition of its efforts, Gyeonggi Province was recognized as an exemplary local government in local investment attraction by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security in July.
Gyeonggi Province expects Sihwa Lake, coupled with the adjacent Aquapetland and the Marine Ecological Science Museum, to emerge as a mecca for the marine leisure industry in the future, reinforced with the dramatic increase in the domestic surfing population and the adoption of surfing as an official event at international competitions such as the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
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| Bird's eye view of Jebu Marina ⓒGyeonggi Province |
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