Winter gateways

Viva Ski and K-Food Festival will be held beginning this month through February targeting tourists from Chinese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries at Vivaldi Park's Ski World in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. / Courtesy of Vivaldi Park

Ski resorts beckon foreigners

By Chung Ah-young

Just shopping or sightseeing is no longer as attractive as it used to be for foreign tourists. They are hunting for more dynamic adventures in different places from tourist routines in urban hot spots.

To cater to their desires for excitement, ski resorts are vying to attract more foreign skiers and snowboarders this season.

The ski resorts are constantly upgrading their facilities to keep up with the increasing popularity of snowboarding as well as skiing.

Skiing and snowboarding facilities at the resorts are usually operated from mid-November or early December to March.

High 1 Resort recruits participants from Singapore, Hong Kong and China for Go-Go Ski Festival through travel agencies. / Korea Times file

Dwindling local visitors and rising foreign tourists

Skiing and snowboarding have been one of the representative winter activities among young people. However, in recent years, the number of skiers and snowboarders has been on the decline due to the prolonged economic slump and changes in tastes for winter recreation.

According to industry sources, the number of customers who visited ski resorts last year was 5.4 million, a 7.5 percent plunge from the year earlier. Also, two out of the nation's 18 ski resorts stopped their operations because of financial difficulties over the last two years.

This winter, the temperature has not been that cold compared to other years, which affects the customers at the resorts.

As the resorts are struggling with a dwindling number of local skiers, foreigners are more than a welcome.

Foreign tourists take part in Fun Ski Festival at Yong Pyong Resort, Gangwon Province, in this 2014 file photo.
/ Courtesy of KTO

Not only ski resorts but also the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has joined hands to lure foreign tourists and boost the winter recreation industry ahead of 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Under the title of "Ski Korea Festival," the KTO aims at drawing more than 5,000 foreigners from China, Hong Kong, Russia and Southeast Asian countries this season.

The festival is the nation's representative ski program targeting foreigners, which takes place in cooperation with the famous resorts' events ― Yong Pyong Resort's "Fun Ski Festival," High 1 Resorts' "Go Go Ski Festival" and Vivaldi Park's "Viva Ski and K-Food Festival."

Particularly, Yong Pyong and High 1 will hold promotional events solely for Chinese tourists in late January.

Konjiam Resort attracts foreigners with free shuttle bus service connecting Hongdae areas, Sinchon, Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Myeong-dong. / Courtesy of Konjiam Resort

Vivaldi Park's Ski World

Vivaldi Park's Ski World in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, which opens almost 24-hours except for the time to check the facilities, has been keen on offering various programs for foreign customers.

The Viva Ski and K-Food Festival will be held from this month to February targeting tourists from Chinese-speaking countries and Southeast Asian countries.

The three-day-four-night package program will recruit 150 tourists, consisting of ski, food and cultural experiences.

For beginning skiers, ski lessons will be provided. The participants can also taste various kinds of foods including "chimaek" (chicken over beer) and take part in cooking classes with chef Jung Jin-seop of Vivaldi Park, who has been nominated for "Master of Korean Fermented Food" by the World Food Culture Center.

If the participants get bored with skiing, other options such as Ocean World, a water park, and Equestrian Club, a riding program, will be in operation.

The first event was held from Dec. 20 to 23, and the second and third events will take place from Jan. 10 to 13 and from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 respectively. The program costs 680,000 won. For more information, visit http://winterfriend.com.

For visitors' convenience, the resort has operated free shuttles from Dec. 1, connecting major hotels in Seoul and City Airport Terminal with the resort.
Foreigners can get a 40 percent discount for ski rentals if they show their identifications.

Elysian Gangchon

Elysian Gangchon in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, can be reached within one hour via subway that links between Sangbong Station in eastern Seoul and Chuncheon, or via the KTX Cheongchun, a high-speed train linking Seoul to Chuncheon.

This resort is located in an ideal place for foreign tourists as it is surrounded by famous tourist destinations such as Nami Island where the Korean soap opera "Winter Sonata" was shot.

"After traveling in Seoul, foreigners come to our resort for skiing. And after skiing here, they go to nearby tourist attractions such as Nami Island or to ‘dakgalbi' (grilled spicy chicken) restaurants," a resort official said.

The resort operates the information center which provides foreign language translation services for foreign skiers.

According to the resort, some 20 percent out of 20,000 to 30,000 daily visitors are foreigners because of its closeness to Seoul and other tourist spots.

The resort said that the number of foreign visitors since opening this year increased by 50 percent from the same period last year.

The resort has various levels of slopes for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers with a 1 kilometer-long run.

For more information, visit www.elysian.co.kr.

High 1 Resort

To promote its annual Go-Go Ski Festival, the resort invited 14 foreign journalists from Southeast Asian countries on Dec. 14-15.

They received ski lessons at High 1 and visited the Convention Center of Kangwon Land and other golf courses operated by the resort.

"I think the resort's festival with snow landscape, ski lessons and performances will appeal to tourists from Southeast Asian countries," one of the journalists who participated in the promotional event was quoted as saying by resort officials. "We are admired for our services and world-class convention facilities as well as ski resorts."

The festival has attracted 7,000 foreign tourists over the last seven years. This year, the resort is recruiting participants from Singapore, Hong Kong and China through travel agencies.

The resort has several beginner slopes, intermediate and advanced slopes along with other leisure facilities such as a casino and sledding slopes.
For more details, visit high1.com.

Konjiam Resort

Located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, the resort has newly launched a shuttle bus service exclusively for foreigners this winter connecting Hongdae areas, Sinchon, Gwanghwaman, City Hall and Myeong-dong. The resort currently operates the free shuttle for local visitors over 12 different routes.

"We have extended our shuttle routes to help foreigners visit our resort without having to use their own vehicles. We hope many foreigners will take advantage of the shuttle," a resort official said.

The resort also boasts of its high-quality snow making system and accessibility to Seoul ― about 40 minutes away from Gangnam, southern Seoul. It has 11 slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.

For more information, visit www.konjiamresort.co.kr.