○ “Gyeonggi Ocean Travel Week” held successfully in cities of Hwaseong, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, and Gimpo
– Intensive promotion and online marketing of Gyeonggi coastal areas bolsters public interest in related tourist attractions
– Commercialization through operation of experiential programs under the theme of Gyeonggi’s coasts
– “Healing Concert” and “Visiting Gyeoggi Tour Promotion Center” organized for tourists
○ Continued operation of entertainment and experiential programs, including busking performances by amateur artists

Gyeonggi Province held “Gyeonggi Ocean Travel Week” from June 14 to 20 with the aim of promoting coastal areas in the cities of Hwaseong, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Siheung and Gimpo. As a result, related online content garnered 3.5 million views (videos) and over 11.56 million online hits (posts), attracting significant public interest.

During Gyeonggi Ocean Travel Week, Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization focused on the promotion of Gyeonggi’s coastal areas to encourage individual, family, and group excursions.

Gyeonggi Province’s 11 digital content items, including a video on the social media of singer Lee Young-ji showcasing her yacht experience at Jeongok Port in Hwaseong City and a YouTube video by YouTuber Dotti highlighting his visit to Daebudo Island in Ansan City, recorded a total of 3.5 million views.

Black Kiwi, an online keyword analysis platform, tracked the promotional effects of such popular video content. It found that 8,509 content items featuring Gyeonggi’s coastal areas posted on online blogs and communities realized exposure of 11.56 million hits, and that the keyword phrase “Gyeonggi Ocean” was also searched 636% more than in the preceding month.

Gyeonggi Province has developed and operated various tourism programs to harness such interest through real tourism models. For instance, six regional tour program sessions (48 participants) under the title “Specialized Streets of Gyeonggi’s Coasts” were held at Jeongok Port in Hwaseong City and Oido in Siheung City, and “Gyeonggi beachcombing” activities that combined tourism with environmental volunteer work were also held with 47 participants.

Furthermore, the Gyeonggi Ocean Promotion Forum—which was held at the Gimpo Ara Marina on June 18 to identify ways in which to boost long-term tourism—saw participation by scholars as well as representatives of related associations and private sector stakeholders. The “Healing Concert” that toured five cities including Siheung and the “Visiting Gyeoggi Tour Promotion Center” that took place in the cities of Ansan and Hwaseong were among the other public promotion events.

Even after the conclusion of Gyeonggi Ocean Travel Week, the province plans to continue busking performances by amateur artists until September and the operation of specialized streets along Gyeonggi’s coastal areas (Jeongok Port in Hwaseong City and Oido in Siheung City) until October.

Gyeonggi Province Tourism Director Choi Yong-hoon said, “We planned and held Gyeonggi Ocean Travel Week with faithful adherence to safety measures that took into account the COVID-19 situation.” He added, “Based on this experience, we will continue to create and promote interesting programs to develop Gyeonggi’s coastal areas as national tourist attractions.”