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According to the local government of Jeju Province, as of today, 227 accommodation establishments, including small hotels and guesthouses, have ceased operations between January and May, with 21 of them temporarily closing.
This number is dozens of times higher than the same period last year, when only a mere 5 accommodation establishments closed. The main reason for this situation is believed to be the sharp decline in South Korean tourists visiting Jeju.
Jeju - the "Hawaii paradise" of South Korea
Previously, Jeju was a favorite domestic travel destination for South Koreans, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when restrictions on international travel led many to seek out domestic destinations.
The lifting of international travel restrictions since mid-last year is one of the main reasons for the decline in South Korean tourists visiting Jeju. With the freedom to travel abroad, many South Koreans have prioritized new and more attractive destinations, rather than returning to Jeju – a place they have visited many times before. South Korean tourists have begun returning to overseas destinations, causing a sharp drop in the number of visitors to Jeju.
Furthermore, the issue of price is also a factor that makes domestic South Korean tourists less enthusiastic about Jeju. Many tourists believe that the prices of services and food products here are high, but the quality is not commensurate. This leaves them feeling disappointed and unwilling to return to Jeju on future trips.
Furthermore, intense competition from other domestic tourist destinations such as Busan, Gyeongju, and Ulleungdo Island has contributed to the sluggishness of tourism in Jeju. The prices of services and tourism products in these places are generally considered cheaper than in Jeju. These destinations offer a wider variety of activities and experiences for tourists, from visiting historical and cultural sites to entertainment, shopping, and exploring nature.
Jeju's tourism industry is in crisis.
Intense competition from domestic tourist destinations forces Jeju to change and improve in order to attract visitors. Diversifying tourism products, improving service quality, and focusing on reasonable prices are necessary to provide tourists with more choices and the best possible travel experiences.
The widespread closure of accommodation establishments is creating significant challenges for Jeju's economy, which relies heavily on tourism. Local authorities are working to implement measures to attract tourists back to Jeju, including developing new tourism products, promoting the destination's image, and improving service quality.
However, many experts believe that more long-term and strategic solutions are needed to revive Jeju's tourism industry, such as investing in infrastructure, developing new tourism sectors, and diversifying tourist markets.
In the first five months of this year, more than 4.9 million South Korean tourists visited the island, compared to 5.3 million in the same period of 2023 and 5.5 million in 2022. There has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Jeju. However, this group of visitors tends to stay in large hotels. Many of these hotels have business contracts with travel companies that bring foreign tourists to the island through package tours.
