Hanatour, the country's top travel company, and the Gangwon Tourism Foundation announced Tuesday they will jointly develop a travel product called "Meaningful Travel" — a package combining tourism with environmental awareness, community contribution and ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles.
The program will run four times between Sept. 5 and Oct. 31, visiting Sokcho, Yangyang-gun, Samcheok and Donghae in sequence, offered through an online promotional event on Hanatour's website.
The tours follow "Nangman Gado" (Romantic Road), a coastal route running alongside the East Sea in Gangwon Province. Participants will explore local specialties, join trash-collection walks, view junk art installations and work alongside residents on environmental conservation efforts.
The first trip takes place in Sokcho on Sept. 5. Participants will visit Geumho Seorak Resort for a clothing donation drive, with gifts offered to customers who donate. The itinerary also includes stops at Yeonggeuimjeong, Sokcho Jungang Market and Sokcho Beach.
The second trip, on Sept. 13 in Yangyang, will include visits to Naksansa temple and Yangyang Market, followed by an upcycling exhibition where participants can view creative works made from discarded materials and experience ESG principles and resource circulation firsthand.
The third trip, on Oct. 17 in Samcheok, will take travelers through Jukseouru pavilion and Naritgol Emotional Village before a hands-on upcycling program where participants can experience the value of resource circulation and sustainable consumption directly.
The fourth and final stop is Donghae on Oct. 31. The itinerary centers on a local gastronomy experience using regional ingredients, giving participants a taste of Donghae's culinary identity. Travelers will also visit landmark attractions including the Candlestick Rock suspension bridge, Mureung Byeoryucheonji and Mukho Lighthouse.
"Meaningful Travel" packages will go on sale in sequence. Full details on each product, itinerary and how to participate will be available through the websites of the Gangwon Tourism Foundation and Hanatour.
Choi Seong-hyeon, chief executive of the Gangwon Tourism Foundation, said the program was designed "to offer a new travel experience by combining Gangwon Province's tourism resources with ESG content." He added that the foundation would "continue working with private companies to develop sustainable tourism products and contribute to revitalizing local tourism, so that travelers can experience the value of the environment and local communities while discovering the appeal of Gangwon."
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