Gyeonggi Province plans to
supply safe public camp sites and lay the groundwork for overnight tourism. 

Gyeonggi Province announced
that it will invest KRW 27.9 billion between 2015 and 2017 to create a total of
22 public camp sites including 12 this year and five in 2017. Of particular
note, 18 of these camp sites will be located in northeast Gyeonggi. 

Last year, the provincial government
built a total 308 camping lots at five public camp site locations including Pocheon
Sanjeong Lake (32 lots), Yangju Jangheung (46 lots), Yangpyeong Yongmunsan
Mountain (54 lots), Yeoju Kumeunmorae (91 lots), and Anseong Anseongmachum (85 lots). 

This year, the province plans
to complete 475 camping lots at six camp sites including Goyang KINTEX (70 lots),
Osan Malguemteo Park (60 lots), Guri Eco (50 lots), Yangpyeong Omokgol (75 lots),
the Paju Gongneung Tourist Site (70 lots), and the Yeoncheon World Camping
Experience Zone (150 lots). 

Additionally, the province is developing
camp sites at Seongamdo Gyeonggi Marine Camp Site (50 lots) in Ansan, at the Doi-ri
Camp Site (35 lots) in Hyangnam-eup of Hwaseong, and at the Pyeongtaek Naeri Tourist
Site (40 lots). Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province is holding public competitions for
projects to build public camp sites on public properties, abandoned properties,
or in closed schools owned by cities and counties. 

In 2017, an ultra-large public
camp site with 400 camping lots will be built at the Imjingak tourist site in
Paju, and the provincial government will select cities and counties in which to
build the four remaining camp sites. 

A provincial government official
said, “Gyeonggi
Province is first in the country in terms of day trips, but second in terms of
overnight travel destinations. Therefore, we need to increase overnight
tourism. In particular, this project aims to increase overnight tourism in the
relatively underdeveloped northern Gyeonggi region and stimulate its local
economy.”

In fact, the Hantangang River
public camp site in Yeoncheon, which opened in July 2008 and developed together
with recreational facilities nearby, operates at over 90% capacity during peak
seasons and attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year. The results show
that it helped stimulate overnight tourism in northern Gyeonggi. 

According to a public tourism survey
performed in 2014 by the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, the number of
tourists visiting Gyeonggi Province for day trips was 10.98 million, accounting
for 35% of all day trip tourists (30.65 million nationally and placing Gyeonggi
Province first in Korea. Meanwhile, the number of overnight tourists reached
7.89 million, accounting for 24% of all overnight tourists (32.21 million) for
the entire nation. This placed Gyeonggi Province second only to Gangwon
Province (31%).  

Gyeonggi Province also expects
this project to help compensate for the lack of private camp sites stemming
from the enforcement of camp site registration regulations last January, and to
create a safe culture for camping as well.

A provincial government
official said, “With these public camp sites, you will be able to
enjoy high quality, safe camp sites featuring various amenities with your
family. You’ll
be able to enjoy it economically, safely, and pleasantly.” The official added, “We will help these camp
sites connect with various tourism resources in northern Gyeonggi including its
nature, ecosystems, security, and culture to stimulate the local economy.”

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Lee Jun-kyun eyekle@hanmail.net