Kangwon Land, home of South Korea’s only residents gambling establishment, has actually revealed an integrated tourist task to improve foreign patronage. The strategy will include more non-gaming tourist attractions and likewise increase the video gaming flooring.
Kangwon Land Casino & & Hotel lies in Gangwon Province. The picturesque however remote mountainous area borders the DMZ in between North and South Korea. The residential or commercial property, about 150 kilometres from Seoul, opened in 2000 in an one-time coal mining neighborhood.
“Just as Las Vegas changed from a desert mining town into an international home entertainment center, Kangwon Land has the possible to change from a previous coal mining area,” stated Kangwon vice-president and interim CEO Choi Cheol-kyoo. “Distance is no longer a barrier in today’s world and we intend to produce a first-rate location here.”
Stressing home entertainment
The complex currently boasts several non-gaming tourist attractions. It has 2 hotels, a golf course, a water park and among South Korea’s biggest ski resorts. To date this year, some 25,000 immigrants have actually gone to the home, up 476% over 2023.
Kangwon Land thinks a growth of non-gaming features– specifically home entertainment– will draw in even more international visitors to South Korea.
“People want to take a trip cross countries to Las Vegas to take pleasure in the programs and efficiencies,” stated Choi. “We intend to establish a comparable complex in our area.”
The plan consists of a larger efficiency location, a broadened shopping district and “triple the variety of dining establishments”. The business has actually set a target to enhance non-gaming income from 13% to 30% by 2032.
Following the conventional IR design
Kangwon Land’s scheduled growth follows the incorporated resort design that has actually achieved success in Vegas, Singapore, Macau and in other places.
At a current tourist workshop in Seoul, hospitality specialist Yoon Tae-hwan stated non-gaming functions “craft a resort’s identity”.
Chen Si, president of the latest IR in South Korea, Mohegan Inspire in Incheon, concurred that non-gaming is “not just about home entertainment and hospitality”. It is crucial to “sustainable development … and offering unique, exceptional experiences to visitors from all around the world.”
Video gaming flooring growth
The lion’s share of income still comes from video gaming. And Kangwon Land’s KRW2.5 tn (₤ 1.42 bn/EUR1.69 bn/$1.85 bn) Korean High1 Integrated Tourism (K-HIT) strategy would likewise broaden the gambling establishment flooring.
Last month, South Korea’s ministry of culture, sports and tourist authorized a 30% growth of the video gaming flooring, from 14,500 sqm to 20,260 sqm. It likewise raised the optimum bet by immigrants from KRW300,000 to KRW30m.