Tourists visiting Hwacheon in Gangwon Province will receive half of their travel expenses back in mobile local currency starting in September. Individuals can receive up to 100,000 won, while groups can get 200,000 won, and families can claim up to 500,000 won.
According to Hwacheon County, the area was selected on August 6 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the 'Local Love Vacation Support' pilot project. Hwacheon is the only area in Gangwon Province chosen for this initiative in the second half of the year.
The program will run from September to December. Tourists from outside the region, excluding residents of neighboring cities and counties, will receive 50% of their spending at participating local merchants back in mobile local currency.
The refund limits are set at 100,000 won for individuals, 200,000 won for groups of two or more, and 500,000 won for families. Specific eligibility criteria and details will be finalized later.
Tourists interested in participating must pre-register on a dedicated website that Hwacheon County will establish. The site will provide information on participating accommodations and restaurants.
The refunded local currency can be used again at participating merchants in Hwacheon. This initiative aims to reduce the financial burden on tourists while encouraging them to spend locally, thereby boosting sales for small businesses and local markets.
This program is noteworthy as it seeks not only to increase tourist numbers but also to translate that into actual local consumption, reflecting Hwacheon County's tourism policy experiment. As the range of participating sectors, including accommodations, dining, and experiences, expands, it is expected that tourists will stay longer and explore more.
To coincide with the launch of the program in the fall, the county plans to host a nationwide park golf tournament and other sporting events. It also aims to promote key tourist attractions such as the Oxygen Road, Paroho Lake, the Peace Dam, and the Baegamsan Cable Car.
The strategy is to guide sports event participants to general tourist sites, accommodations, and restaurants, connecting natural and security tourism resources into a cohesive travel route that encourages 'visit-stay-consume' tourism.
The success of the program will depend on securing sufficient participating merchants, simplifying the application and refund process, and effectively encouraging tourists to reuse the local currency. The county plans to disclose detailed operational plans after completing the system setup and merchant recruitment.
Kim Se-hoon, the mayor of Hwacheon County, stated, “With this selection, we will actively market Hwacheon’s tourism resources nationwide to attract more visitors without financial burden. We aim to establish a sustainable model where tourist influx revitalizes the local economy.”
Information on application methods and refund criteria will be provided through the Hwacheon County website and official social media channels.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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