As of September this year, the number of riders on Korail's 'Regional Love Train Travel' program has reached 237,000, surpassing last year's total of 220,000. This marks a 67% increase compared to 142,000 riders during the same period last year.
According to Korail on October 15, the average monthly ridership for the program this year is 26,000, up from approximately 10,000 in its first year and around 20,000 last year.
The 'Regional Love Train Travel' initiative was launched in August 2024 to promote tourism in population-declining areas. Initially targeting 23 such regions across the country, the program exceeded 10,000 bookings within just 20 days of its launch. The program has since expanded its target areas and offerings, resulting in 220,000 annual riders last year.
This year, the most popular destinations were Namwon and Miryang, attracting 22,600 and 22,500 visitors, respectively, followed by Samcheok with 16,000. Among individual travel packages, the 'Miryang-Busan Inland Tour' recorded about 6,000 riders, while the 'Yeongdong Winery Tour' had approximately 5,600 participants.
During the spring travel season in April and May, ridership reached over 119,000, accounting for nearly half of this year's total. The average monthly ridership during this period was about 3.5 times higher than in the remaining seven months.
To boost ridership in the fall, Korail is offering travel packages linked to local festivals. Recommended courses include the Silver Eulalia Flower Festival in Jeongseon, the Million Chrysanthemum Festival in Iksan, and the National Flower Festival in Hampyeong.
Discounts will continue, with a 50% fare reduction on five themed train routes, including the Baekdudaegan Valley Train and the West Sea Golden Train. Additionally, the price of the 'Tomorrow Pass' will be reduced by 20,000 won. Travelers visiting 41 tourist sites in population-declining areas can also receive fare discounts through a coupon system.
Lee Min-seong, head of Korail's passenger business division, stated, “We will continue to collaborate with local governments and related organizations to ensure that train travelers attending festivals contribute to the local economy.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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