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[Yanolja Research Insights Vol. 38] How Foreign Airline Routes Drive Regional Growth



2026 is predicted to be a record-breaking year for inbound tourism. Yet, the reality for regions tells a different story. Despite great infrastructure, regional destinations struggle with low demand, as over 80% of tourists visit only the capital area. This creates a severe regional 'Undertourism' crisis.





Before diving deeper, let’s clarify a few key ideas shaping this regional revitalization strategy: 

✅ Undertourism: Economic stagnation due to a lack of visitors, despite having infrastructure.

✅ Zero to One: Innovation that creates new value(1) from nothing(0).

✅ Visa-Free Entry System: Allowing foreign nationals to enter without a visa under certain conditions.

✅ Consumption Population: Non-residents who stay and spend money in a specific local economy.




How can an empty regional airport become a core engine for saving the local economy? Let's uncover the economic value through the Yangyang International Airport case study, which presents a new solution for regional revitalization by attracting foreign airlines.




According to AI predictions of Yanolja Research, 2026 will be a record-breaking year of inbound tourists. We must seize this massive "inbound momentum" as a new economic growth driver to create local jobs and overcome the crisis of regional decline.



There is a severe imbalance where over 80% of tourists stay only in the Seoul metropolitan area. To break the undertourism of regional airports that are ignored despite great infrastructure, we desperately need a strategic gateway to disperse the tourist flow to the provinces.



The innovation of Yangyang Airport, pioneering routes where none existed!

Yangyang acts as a central node (Hub) that attracts tourists, who then spread out to every corner of Gangwon Province (Spoke). This "Hub & Spoke" frmaework can breathe life into the entire region.



Attracting foreign flights means much more than just planes coming and going. It is the clearest proof of value—generating hundreds of billions of won in production inducement and added value, maximizing local economic profits, and creating quality jobs for the youth.




For more details, check out Yanolja Research Insights Vol. 38!



🙌 Want more? Watch the shorts on our YouTube channel! 🙌



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Location: Seoul, South Korea

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