Gangwon State, led by Governor Kim Jin-tae, announced that it has attracted approximately 710 group tourists from the Philippines through charter flights operating on the Yangyang–Manila route, in line with the winter tourism season.
Accordingly, on December 18, when the first charter flight arrived, Gangwon State held a welcome event at Yangyang International Airport in cooperation with the Korea Tourism Organization to greet approximately 170 tourists from the Philippines.
Arriving at Yangyang International Airport with their families and partners during the Christmas holiday period, Philippine tourists began their visit with K-Wave cultural experiences at the airport arrival hall, including K-pop music and soundtracks from popular Korean dramas, marking the start of their stay in Gangwon State.
The tourists are scheduled to spend two nights and three days touring major attractions in Gangwon State, including wellness and snow sledding experiences at High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Nami Island in Chuncheon, and the BTS Bus Stop in Gangneung.
Meanwhile, the Philippines, which is designated as a visa-free entry country for Yangyang International Airport, has attracted more than 3,000 visitors through charter flight travel packages over a total of 19 operations from 2023 to the present.
In particular, this tourism package was designed to allow travelers to experience both winter tourism and wellness content in celebration of the “2025–2026 Visit Gangwon Year.” The package sold out completely through the Philippine-based travel agency Rakso Travel.
At the welcoming ceremony, Gangwon State Governor Kim Jin-tae personally greeted the visitors, stating, “Gangwon State is the region most closely associated with winter in Korea, offering snow and winter landscapes that are rarely seen in the Philippines.” He added, “I hope you fully enjoy the winter season in Gangwon and create many joyful memories during your stay.”
Meanwhile, following the launch of Parata Air services, domestic routes at Yangyang International Airport are gradually gaining stability. The state plans to attract non-scheduled international flights from Japan, Vietnam, and Taiwan, with the goal of expanding them into regular routes and developing Yangyang International Airport into a key international tourism hub for Korea’s East Coast.
