The effect of the opening of the KTX Gyeonggang highspeed railway line in improving perceptions of PyeongChang in Korea leading to sustainable tourism

Abstract

High-speed railways improve mobility and enhance accessibility between regions, thereby substantially expanding and promoting social and economic activities. The aim of this study was to examine whether the introduction of the high-speed KTX Gyeonggang Line to support the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics in South Korea had an effect on how tourism to the PyeongChang region is perceived. We extracted tourism-related keywords from social network services and major portal sites used in South Korea, and analysed them for the year before and the year after the opening of the line. The results of the study suggest that there was an initial high interest in the opening of the line and an expectation of a reduction in physical travel time and of an increase in regional development. After the opening of KTX, the results suggest a higher recognition of PyeongChang and the surrounding area as sightseeing destinations. The implications are that the opening of the KTX Gyeonggang Line improved tourism attractiveness and accessibility along with the legacy of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and that it is considered to be a major factor affecting the sustainable development of tourist attractions in the PyeongChang area and tourists' perception and future behaviour.

Keywords

• high-speed railway
• pyeongchang
• winter olympics
• tourist perceptions
• south korea
• big data
• social media