The Government of South Korea is looking at imposing tourism fees at Jeju Island, a destination famous for its blue skies and canola blossoms to never-ending coastal roads. The proposal is yet to be passed at the National Assembly of South Korea.
Jeju Island has long been touted as the “Hawaii of Asia.” An increasingly popular holiday destination for domestic and foreign tourists, its booming tourism has also led to an overload of garbage and sewage. This has threatened the island’s marine ecosystem and the livelihood of its residents. Under the new plan, tourists are expected to pay an average of 8,170 won (S$8.20) each day for entering Jeju. The fees will include 1,500 won for each night of stay on the island. The visitors renting a car or minivan will be charged 5,000 won and 10,000 won, respectively, for each day. Tourists who rent a bus will be charged 5 per cent of the rental fee. The fees are now under review, according to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
If the proposal is passed, the fees will add 141 billion won to government coffers after the first year, and 167 billion won in the second year, says the authority’s forecast in the report.
