ski with korea resort...great fun with korea ski resort

Melt those winter-time blues with some fun on the slopes

Dec 26,2015

	A snowboarder takes to the air on a slope at Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi. [KONJIAM RESORT]

Ski resort operators smarting from an apparent drop in the number of snowboarders and skiers so far this season are pulling out all the stops to get more visitors on the slopes.

They have established more free shuttle routes all across the country to make it more convenient for people from any region to enjoy winter sports, and have also set up more foreign language services to cater to overseas visitors.

So far, the weather hasn’t been helpful. Extreme cold weather hasn’t hit yet and slopes aren’t overcrowded.

This is beneficial to both beginners and experienced skiers as they can take advantage of the increased space.


Shrinking population

The number of skiers and snowboarders that visited any of the 14 ski resorts from last year (2014 to 2015 winter season) dropped about 8 percent from the previous year, according to statistics of the Korea Ski Resort Business Association.

Ski resorts in the season 2014 (from 2013 to 2014 winter) saw about 5.58 million visitors, which was a drop from the 2013 season (from 2012 to 2013 winter) of 6.31 million. The number stayed above 6 million between the 2006 and 2012 winter but it started to drop fast afterwards.

	Visitors to Konjiam Resort can do the countdown to the New Year outdoors while enjoying a live concert and fireworks. They can also release balloons. [KONJINAM RESORT]

“The main reason for the drop is that the younger generation looks for other types of leisure sports as there are more options to choose from than before,” said Kim Tae-young, assistant manager of Pheonix Park’s communication and strategy team.

“The more avid ski and snowboarders are usually in their 30s or 40s who picked up such winter sports when younger.”

Prior to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, these resorts are gearing up to develop ways to attract a new crowd to learn how to ski or snowboard.


Foreigner attractions

The new trend at resorts is that more wintertime travelers from overseas countries make local ski resorts part of their travel itinerary in Korea. Many visitors from countries where it rarely snows come to see the white winter wonderland as well as to pick up new winter sports as hobbies.

	Skiers and non-skiers can enjoy some time at outdoor hot water pools to relax their tired muscles after a day of winter activities at Pheonix Park. [Pheonix PARK]

While fewer local people visit ski resorts, the number of foreign visitors is getting relatively higher, said many officials at ski resorts. Attracting more foreign visitors is getting more important to bring higher anticipation for the upcoming Winter Olympics, and expand the range of visitors in the future.

Many travel agencies that arrange travel outside of Seoul mark the resorts as part of their travel itinerary. However, the exact number of foreign visitors has not yet been counted by resorts.

An official at Elysian Resort, which is adjacent to Gapyeong County, Gyeonggi, and is one of the popular near-Seoul travel spots, said that many visitors choose to come to the ski resort. More foreigner-friendly services are being developed.

“Before, we focused more on evaluating the ski instructor’s skill in the snow when we hired them,” said an official at Elysian Resort. “But now another skill we check with instructors is whether they can speak any other language besides Korean.”

	As well as a day on the slopes, visitors to Vivaldi Park can pose for a video taken by a drone and they can have the video sent to their cell phones. [Vivaldi Park]

Considering first-timers who may be scared of trying winter sports and end up just taking photos of the snow and walking around, Jisan Forest from Icheon, Gyeonggi, operates slopes that are designed for first time skiers, with a 3-degree slope. Usually the slopes at resorts are inclined from 5 to 30 degrees.

A major event targeting foreigners is being held at Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon. Dubbed “Viva Ski and K-food Festival,” the resort invites guests from China and elsewhere in southeast Asia to introduce Korea’s culture, food and leisure.

	Many experienced skiers bring their children to the slopes and teach them how to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months. [PHEONIX PARK]

The event package, which lasts for four days, includes ski lessons for beginners and Korean food such as chimac, a combination of chicken and beer alongside pork barbecue, or a Korean buffet.

Some water sports or horseback-riding programs are included and are followed by nighttime K-pop performances and a dance party with traditional Korean alcoholic beverage makeolli. The package costs 680,000 won ($582). The next event is scheduled from Jan. 10 to 13, and the last one from Jan. 31 to Feb 3.


Regular benefits

To encourage regulars, Pheonix Park in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, will provide a life-time membership to snowboarders and skiers at its resort during the season. The event is part of the resort’s 20th birthday celebrations this year. The resort will hold a lucky draw among season-ticket buyers
and the winners will get a lifetime ski membership and a free voucher to stay at the
resort.

The resort is trying to attract young visitors who were born in 1995, the same year the area was opened. Those born in 1995 will get free lift rides and their friends and families will get discounts.

In an attempt to bring more visitors, many ski resorts decided to expand their transportation services. Pheonix Park in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, decided to run shuttle buses to and from 13 different cities in Korea, including Daegu, Busan, Gumi, Daejeon, Cheongju, Cheonan and Sejong. The services are free for season-ticket
holders.

Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong County, Gangwon, is also offering a free shuttle to its season-ticket holders, but charges 14,000 won for round-trip tickets to other guests.

Meanwhile, some resorts like Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon, or Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi offer free shuttle bus service to all visitors.

Winter entertainment


One of the fast-growing after-ski entertainments among winter sports enthusiasts is relaxing in hot springs or a sauna. High 1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon, has an outdoor hot water pool for overnight guests. When it snows, users can watch the outdoor snowscape while enjoying the hot bath. Pheonix Park also runs its water park “Blue Canyon” during the winter.

For non-skiers, Jisan Resort runs a woodcraft studio where individuals and groups can make wooden goods.

Konjiam Resort will have an outdoor concert on New Year’s Eve from 11:30 p.m., which will be followed by fireworks. Guests release balloons while wishing for good luck in the coming year. Children at the resort will get free chocolate and candies on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

BY LEE SUN-MIN [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]



For more information about these resorts, go to - Konjiam Resort: www.konjiamresort.co.kr or call 1661-8787; Pheonix Park: www.phoenixpark.co.kr, or call 1577-0069; Vivaldi Park: www.daemyungresort.com/vp or call 1588-4888; Elysian Resort: www.elysian.co.kr, or call (033) 260-2000; Jisan Forest: www.jisanresort.co.kr. or call (031) 644-1200; Welli Hilli Park: www.wellihillipark.com or call 1544-8833.

 

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