Seongju County enters 3rd year of Night Tourism Specialized City project, accelerating 'stay-over tourism'

As it enters the third year of the Night Tourism Specialized City project, Seongju County in Gyeongbuk is seeking to leap forward as a stay-over tourism destination. Having been selected as the first county-level Night Tourism Specialized City in 2024, Seongju County has significantly strengthened programs targeting three-generation family visitors under the brand 'Twinkle Seongju!'

This year, the focus will shift from one-off events to the operation of permanent content. In particular, the 'Night Walking' held at Seongbak Forest is planned to run for 23 consecutive days throughout the month of October to increase the length of visitor stays. Furthermore, the strategy is to capture tourists' interest by expanding the spatial scope to include Gaya Mountain and King Sejong the Great's Birthplace, while adding elements such as a talk concert by instructor Choi Tae Sung and gourmet content utilizing oriental melons.

The transition from simple viewing-oriented events to permanent programs utilizing local resources is expected to be effective in inducing repeat visits from tourists. However, to settle into a sustainable local tourism ecosystem beyond temporary event-based activities, diversifying permanent content that can overcome seasonal factors is expected to be a future challenge.

Mayor Jeon Hwa-sik stated, "We will build a family-friendly night tourism city that all generations, from grandparents to Children, can enjoy together."