VI
EN
In recent years, Jeju Island, a jewel of South Korea, has not attracted as many tourists as it once did. Korean tourists are gradually changing their habits, preferring international vacations over domestic ones, resulting in a decline in domestic visitors to Jeju.
Jeju Island, with its pristine beauty, is considered the "jewel" of South Korea.
With over 90% of tourists visiting Jeju being domestic, this trend is putting significant pressure on the island's restaurant, hotel, and golf course chains. The Jeju provincial government acknowledges that approximately 227 accommodation establishments, such as small hotels and guesthouses, ceased operations in the first five months of the year, with 21 of them temporarily closing.
In an effort to restore its reputation, the Jeju provincial government has made an effort by appointing renowned Indonesian artist Anang Hermansyah as a tourism ambassador for the island.
Artist Anang Hermansyah, with over 6 million social media followers, was appointed in June 2024 to attract Southeast Asian tourists to Jeju. In an Instagram post, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun proudly announced the collaboration with Hermansyah and praised the potential of this partnership in reviving the local tourism industry.
Jeju Governor Oh Young-hun (center) poses for a photo with Anang Hermansyah (right) and his family at the Jeju Provincial Government Office. (Photo: The Star)
Anang Hermansyah was initially widely known as a talented musician before being elected to the Indonesian House of Representatives for a five-year term starting in 2014. He now holds many roles, including being a judge on the "Indonesian Idol" competition and an online content creator with his wife, singer Ashanty, who has over 30 million followers.
Currently, Anang Hermansyah is using her influence to support Jeju Province, posting videos promoting local restaurants and markets to her more than 5 million Instagram followers.
Jeju is trying to attract domestic tourists, but South Koreans are increasingly favoring international travel. In 2023, the number of South Korean visitors to Jeju decreased by 8.3%, from 13.8 million in 2022 to 12.66 million. Meanwhile, according to the Jeju Tourism Association, the number of international visitors increased from 90,000 to 710,000 during the same period, indicating a significant shift in South Korean travel habits.
According to a report by data analytics firm GlobalData, South Koreans are trending towards international destinations later this year, with Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand being top choices. Authorities in Jeju are now hoping Anang will promote the island and its famous traditional markets through her social media account with millions of followers.
