Sol Beach Jindo partners with county, marine experience operator to boost stay-based tourism

A tourism cooperation framework linking marine experiences with resort stays is taking shape in Jindo.

Sol Beach Jindo, operated by Sono International, announced Thursday that it has formed a mutual cooperation framework with Jindo-gun and Baebaeya Nollja English Cooperative to promote stay-based tourism by connecting the region's marine resources with the resort's infrastructure.

The three parties signed a three-way MOU for "regional tourism promotion and mutual cooperation" at the Jindo-gun county office on Aug. 19. Under the agreement, they will collaborate on developing and operating tourism products using local seafood, providing mutual discount benefits to facility visitors, and promoting initiatives to revitalize the local economy.

Sol Beach Jindo will work with Baebaeya Nollja — a marine experience program supported by Jindo-gun — to offer tourists opportunities to engage with local culture.

Baebaeya Nollja English Cooperative runs the country's first hands-on recreational fishing ground, centered on an abalone experience facility. Visitors can harvest and taste abalone from cage farms, fish for giant freshwater prawns, attend seafood cooking classes, try abalone crafts and enjoy gourmet experiences.

Jindo-gun will support the operation of the agreement and promote it through local channels. The county plans to help shift the region's fishing industry from a production-and-sales model toward a high-value-added sector linked to tourism.

The three parties have also arranged cross-promotional benefits to increase tourist arrivals and satisfaction during stays. Guests at Sol Beach Jindo receive a 10 percent discount on Baebaeya Nollja experience programs. Baebaeya Nollja visitors can enjoy a 40 percent discount on Sol Beach Jindo's infinity pool and sauna, and a 20 percent discount at Legend Heroes, the resort's screen sports theme park.

A Sono International official said the company hopes the agreement will allow customers to experience the vibrant marine resources of the Jindo sea while also enjoying the resort's leisure and relaxation facilities, helping them discover the diverse appeal and value of Jindo as a travel destination. "We will continue working to build a mutually beneficial tourism infrastructure that grows together with the local community," the official added.