Shinan County: “Visit the islands with half-price ferry fares”

【Financial News | Shinan—Hwang Tae-jong, Reporter】“Come visit Shinan’s islands with half-price ferry fares.”
 Shinan County is expanding its half-price passenger ferry fare subsidy program for the general public to 11 remote outermost islands in the Heuksan area, including Hongdo and Heuksando Island, starting on the 27th, to promote island tourism and revive the local economy.
 Previously, support was available only on weekdays, excluding weekends and public holidays, for four remote outermost islands: Gageodo, Manjaedo, Sangtaedo and Hataedo.
 However, with this expansion, the program will cover 11 islands in the Heuksan area, and support will be extended year-round, including weekends and public holidays.
 Shinan County Governor Kim Tae-seong said, “I expect this expansion of ferry fare support to strengthen the tourism competitiveness of major destinations in Shinan, including Heuksando Island and Hongdo, as well as nearby islands, and to encourage tourists to visit and stay.”
 He added, “I expect that longer stays by tourists on the islands will spread spending throughout local service industries, including lodging, food service and tourism, helping to increase residents’ incomes and revitalize the local economy.”
 Shinan County is also proactively implementing environmental management measures in response to rising tourist numbers. To prepare for increased waste resulting from expanded ferry fare support, it is taking steps to maintain the island environment, including deploying a cargo vessel on the 15th to serve Heuksando Island and nearby smaller islands.
 In particular, the county currently operates the half-price ferry fare subsidy program using subsidies from Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (Gwangju Metropolitan City) and county funds. However, as the burden on local-government finances grows, it plans to actively urge the central government to provide national subsidies under the Special Act on Support for Remote Outermost Islands through continued discussions with relevant ministries.
 Shinan County Governor Kim Tae-seong emphasized, “Previously, fares varied according to sailing distance for destinations such as Gageodo, Manjaedo and Hongdo, but starting next year, we plan to provide a half-price fare subsidy based on the fare to Heuksando Port. We will increase the number of tourists who stay longer and maximize the potential of island tourism, helping the islands become places everyone wants to live.”

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