Amid an era of high fuel prices, "Namdo Hanbakwi," a tourist circuit bus operated by South Jeolla Province, is drawing budget-conscious travelers. The service allows visitors to tour the region's leading destinations and festivals at once for a reasonable price in the 10,000-won range, and is gaining attention as an alternative mode of transport as rising fuel costs have increased the burden of traveling by personal car.
According to South Jeolla Province on Monday, the Namdo Hanbakwi spring travel courses unveiled in March consist of 23 themes, including spring flowers, gardens, islands, the sea, and regional cuisine. Officials attribute the rise in users to the broader range of travel choices offered through diverse themed courses.
Namdo Hanbakwi is South Jeolla Province's flagship tourism product, offering a variety of full-day travel courses by bus priced from a minimum of 12,900 won to a maximum of 24,900 won. Each course is accompanied by commentary from a cultural tourism guide, which enhances travelers' understanding and boosts satisfaction. With its combination of price competitiveness, content, and convenience, demand has been steadily growing.
Major routes include the Gokseong-Gurye spring flower tour (Seomjin River cherry blossoms), the Sinan-Hampyeong slow travel course (flowers, arts, and forest trails), the Goheung Ssukseom and Geumdang 8 Scenic Views tour (Dadohae Sea views), and the Yeosu-Suncheon tour (Seonamsa Temple, Odongdo Island, and Hyangiram Hermitage).
In particular, the new "Namdo Righteous Army History Museum" course has been added this season, further strengthening the product's competitiveness. The course is drawing attention as a new tourism resource, offering educational value that allows visitors to reflect on the patriotic spirit of the Namdo righteous army, along with scenic views of the Yeongsan River overlooked from the museum.
Driven by these factors, the number of users is rapidly increasing. Users of the Namdo Hanbakwi spring travel courses surpassed 5,500 within about 50 days of launch, up more than 10% from the same period last year. The boarding rate for most courses exceeds 90%, with sellouts continuing not only on weekends but also on weekdays.
To maintain this momentum, South Jeolla Province has also prepared special courses for May's Family Month. The province plans to attract family travelers by operating courses linked to the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival and the Pre-Wando International Marine Algae Expo, as well as a special course at the Jangseong Gourmet Industry Promotion Agency featuring cooking class experiences, scheduled for late May.
If the trend continues, this year's users are expected to reach an all-time high of 26,000, approximately 3,000 more than last year.
"The appeal of Namdo Hanbakwi lies in allowing visitors to enjoy South Jeolla's leading tourist attractions and festivals without the burden of fuel costs in this era of high oil prices," said Oh Mi-kyung, director of the tourism division at South Jeolla Province. "We will operate more substantial and diverse travel courses by season to enhance user satisfaction."
