- Remaining 606 boilers to be installed in order of application until Nov. 30 -

Ulsan Nam-gu City Management Corporation (Head: Lee Chun-sil) announced on Sep. 2 that the whale watching tour cruise served 7,093 passengers (2,633 Ulsan residents, 4,460 non-Ulsan residents and foreign nationals) in August.

In 2021, the total number of passengers was 7,706 (4,459 Ulsan residents, 3,247 non-Ulsan residents and foreign nationals). The passengers in August alone were equivalent to 92% of the total passengers of 2021, proving the great popularity of the whale watching tour cruise.

The whale watching tour cruise began regular services on Apr. 2 this year amidst the pandemic and has completed 111 tours in total (104 whale watching, 7 coastal tours), serving 18,816 passengers. It expects 25,000 passengers by the end of regular services this year. For the past five years, the number of passengers and tours reached a new high every month.

Especially in 2022, non-Ulsan residents and foreigners made up 60% of the total visitors, which is an increase from the annual average of 45%. The Ulsan Nam-gu City Management Corp.
points to several factors for this upsurge. First, the COVID-19 pandemic drove the demand for domestic travel up. The success of joint tour programs with regional hotels that began earlier this year, and the popularity of TV drama where whales are an important theme are also attracting visitors.

Until August, dolphins were seen ten times during the tours. five times in August alone, accounting for half of total dolphin observations. Due to the cold pool that formed in early August, the chance of sighting declined slightly, but from mid-August on, there was a sighting every week.

Lee Chun-sil, head of the Ulsan Nam-gu City Management Corp. said, “In August, a lot of visitors enjoyed the whale watching tour cruise. I express my gratitude, and we are preparing a variety of activities for Chuseok in September, as well as Gaecheonjeol, Hangeul Day, and Ulsan Whale Festival in October, and Busan International Fireworks Festival in November. We ask for your continued interest and support.”