As South Korea readies itself to host the country’s first ever Winter Games in Gangwon Province’s PyeongChang in '18, the organizing committee is "placing heavy emphasis on highlighting year-round tourism in the rural province," according to Julie Jackson of the KOREA HERALD. Famous locally for its cold and snowy winters, PyeongChang is "one of the peninsula’s most popular winter vacation destinations with its plethora of ski slopes and resorts." However, on a global level, the IOC said that one of the "biggest challenges it hopes to combat with the upcoming Winter Games is increasing public awareness of PyeongChang." Senior IOC member Gunilla Lindberg said, "The biggest challenge at the moment is how to promote the games around the world, because this is a small place. It‘s not Rio de Janeiro and it’s not London. We have to take action as soon as possible. We’ll have a series of test events and the athletes will be coming." Gangwon Province’s many travel "hot spots" and amenities also lend to the PyeongChang Olympics’ “venue legacy” plans, in which the organizing committee has "vowed not to let any of the newly built Olympic venues go unused" following the conclusion of the Games. Aside from its "obvious snow-themed activities and attractions as Korea’s winter wonderland, there’s more to Gangwon Province than skiing and snowboarding." Jeongseon County in central Gangwon Province is "slowly being recognized as a must-visit tourist attraction." Characterized by 1,000m-high mountains that "encase a quaint village," the region’s Arii Hills are home to a transparent observation platform and a "death-defying zip-lining cliff drop." With the recent launch of Korail’s Jeongseon Arirang A-Train service last year, reaching Jeongseon County is "now easier than ever before." Departing from Seoul, the "quick train ride allows for a quick and easy day trip for travelers pressed for time" (KOREA HERALD, 12/7).
