Travel
Busan gears up to attract tourists from Gangwon and Gyeongbuk with new high-speed train connections
haps Magazine Korea
November 13, 2024
(KORAIL Busan-Gyeongnam Headquarters)
The city of Busan is actively preparing to attract more tourists from the Gangwon and Gyeongbuk regions with the upcoming launch of the Bujeon-Gangneung ITX and Bujeon-Cheongnyangni KTX lines at the end of this year.
With these new high-speed connections, travel time between Bujeon and Gangneung will be reduced to just 3 hours and 50 minutes, while the journey between Bujeon and Cheongnyangni will take only 2 hours and 50 minutes, making same-day trips to Busan feasible for travelers from these regions.
In anticipation of increased tourism demand, the city of Busan and the Busan Tourism Organization held a strategy meeting to focus on three main tourist draws: downtown attractions, gourmet food experiences, and night tourism.
Key attractions like Marine City, Dongbaekseom Island, Gwangalli, Gamcheon Culture Village, Songdo Marine Cable Car, Centum City, and the Arte Museum will be linked through a city tour bus service to offer convenient exploration of Busan’s vibrant landmarks.
In addition, Busan plans to highlight its culinary scene by promoting Michelin Guide-featured restaurants and local food experiences under the “Dining Series.”
For those seeking evening entertainment, Busan’s unique night tourism offerings, such as “Starry Sea Busan,” the “Gwangalli M Drone Light Show,” and “The Bay 101,” will showcase the city’s illuminated coastal beauty.
To support this influx of visitors, Busan will also enhance its tourism infrastructure with multilingual signs and maps around Bujeon Station, which is set to become a major gateway for tourists, and introduce measures to prevent overcharging.
Starting next year, Busan-bound boarding passes and tourism packages will be available at a 20-30% discount through Korail and local travel agencies.
Additionally, discounted tickets for sports tourism activities are planned in conjunction with the Busan National Sports Festival in October.
In an effort to broaden its reach, Busan will expand the popular “BuUlGyeong” SIC tour products, which focus on Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, to include the east coast areas, targeting tourists from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.
By 2026, new train-linked tours will allow for flexible same-day and 1-night, 2-day travel options that integrate city tours with rail journeys.
A unified tourism brand for the east coast, including Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gangwon, will be established to promote interconnected tourist experiences along the coast.
Busan plans to strengthen its marketing efforts through electronic bulletin boards at train stations, online platforms, and pop-up tourism stores in metropolitan areas, showcasing Busan’s unique appeal to both domestic and international travelers.