Gyeonggi Province Lays Foundation to Develop Clean Valleys as Tourist Attractions Through Non-Face-to-Face Programs

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] Following its efforts to remove illegal facilities from valleys throughout the province and restore 'clean valleys' to residents while promoting various tourism initiatives, Gyeonggi Province will begin full-scale development of these areas as tourist attractions starting next year.

Throughout this year, the province produced parody videos and other content showcasing various ways to enjoy Gyeonggi Province's clean and pristine valleys, garnering significant attention.

A comic music video parody titled "Prince of the Valley," adapted from the popular song "Prince of the Sea," drew interest after posting on YouTube with over 110,000 views. Additionally, promotional videos including "Gapyeong Camping Edition" for summer vacation, "Yangju Pension Edition," "Pocheon Car-Camping Edition" featuring valley experiences during the autumn foliage season, and "Back to the Valley," an introductory video for clean valleys, provided visitors with diverse tourism information to enjoy in connection with valley activities.

The province also operated family-oriented experience and performance programs at the valleys and, as part of its traveling Gyeonggi tourism information center initiative, conducted 16 experiential programs from July to October at Gapyeong's Unnak Valley, Pocheon's Baegun Valley, and Yangju's Janghheung Valley, including village-led postcard decorating contests, badge-making, water cannon experiences, and valley treasure hunt stamp mission games.

In July, a magic performance for families was also held at Gapyeong's Unnak Valley.

Additionally, the province piloted the placement of cultural tourism guides at clean valleys to explain valley history and provide COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, operating a variety of programs for safe tourism at clean valleys.

Starting next year, Gyeonggi Province plans to develop clean valleys into major tourist attractions as non-face-to-face safe tourism destinations for residents. The project was selected in the Gyeonggi Province-style policy market in August, and budget has been secured.

Three cities and counties from regions where valley cleanup has been completed will be selected through open competition to operate resident-led seasonal programs. Non-face-to-face programs and events, including valley-specialized sketch contests, will also be promoted to ensure residents can enjoy clean valleys with peace of mind.

Additionally, the province plans to sustain the clean valley tourism boom through cooperation with surrounding valley commerce by connecting circular loop trails around valleys, information on restaurants and accommodations, and existing tourism courses.

Next year, Gyeonggi Province also plans to actively utilize YouTube and social media platforms to promote Gyeonggi Province's clean valleys as non-face-to-face safe tourism destinations with focused promotional campaigns.

Choi Yong-hoon, director of the Provincial Tourism Division, stated, "As COVID-19 persists, residents are increasingly preferring nearby non-face-to-face travel destinations. We plan to integrate various tourism programs so that residents can fully, safely, and enjoyably experience nearby clean valleys."