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The landscape of international tourism to South Korea just became more interconnected. Kangwon Land Inc., which operates the country’s only casino that actually welcomes local gamblers, has struck a deal with Duwon Shipping Co Ltd to create a direct pathway for Russian visitors to discover what the resort has to offer.
The agreement was officially signed last Friday, with Kangwon Land Inc’s hotel and condominium sales director Gwon Bu-geun and Duwon Shipping’s executive director Kim Sang-gyun putting their names to a marketing arrangement that could reshape visitor patterns from the Russian Far East.
Strategic Geography Promotes Tourism Innovation
In some cases, the greatest partnerships result from sheer geography, and that’s precisely what is taking place here. Donghae, the seaport city that houses Duwon Shipping’s South Korean headquarters, lies just 75 minutes from Kangwon Land complex by car.
Duwon Shipping runs the Eastern Dream, making weekly roundtrips from Vladivostok in the Russian Far East back to Donghae. The ship also has weekly service from Donghae to Sakaiminato in Japan, so the ferry firm already has experience running international passenger services on multiple routes. For Russian tourists, Vladivostok is familiar ground before they travel into South Korean waters.
The proximity to Vladivostok is not only useful for visitors—it’s also strategically valuable since that city is close to the Primorye Integrated Entertainment Zone in Russia. That area boasts two gaming properties: the Shambala casino resort and the Tigre de Cristal complex, of which the latter is controlled by Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong-listed company controlled by LET Group Holdings Ltd. Russian tourists in the area already have some familiarity with casino resort experiences, which could make Kangwon Land an appealing alternative destination.
Joint Packaging Creates New Opportunities
The partnership goes beyond just transportation logistics. Kangwon Land Inc and Duwon Shipping are set to roll out joint travel packages specifically aimed at people and tour groups who wish to travel to the South Korean casino resort.
Twenty Russian travel agencies sent representatives to the signing ceremony, which indicates there’s already established interest in the Russian tourism sector. These representatives also toured the casino complex and spent time discussing plans for developing and promoting tailored packages for tourists.
International Focus Reflects Broader Strategy
This ferry deal is part of Kangwon Land’s overall plan to draw in foreign tourists, especially as the company is under greater challenge from surrounding gaming jurisdictions that are actively courting South Korean players. The management of this resort has been paying more and more attention to foreign players, and this deal is a tangible move toward making that dream a reality.
Back in May, Kangwon Land Inc revealed it was willing to pay the equivalent of about $7.00 per player to overseas travel agencies that could bring customers to a foreigner-only gaming zone at the property’s casino.
Financial Performance Provides Foundation
The casino company reported 74.26 billion KRW net income, about $54.7 million, in the initial three months of 2025, on sales worth 366.31 billion KRW. Although sales were equal to last year’s, stable performance supplies the firm with funds to invest in marketing deals such as this ferry agreement.
This Russian tourist project is a real-world model of international expansion that takes advantage of existing transportation infrastructure while generating new revenue streams for both the partners. For Kangwon Land, it serves to open up an existing market sector that is already accustomed to casino resort holidays but perhaps in search of fresh locations. For Duwon Shipping, it generates more value for their ferry services by providing package deals that are more than just transportation.
The success of this alliance will depend on how effectively both firms are able to coordinate their marketing efforts and produce experiences that will attract Russian tourists willing to make the ferry trip to South Korea. But with the geographical benefits and the commitment that both parties have demonstrated, this could set the stage for similar international tourism alliances in the region.
Source: GGR Asia
