Increasing Hiring in Preparation for Inbound Chinese Group Tourists
Expanding Chinese Language Guidance in Hotels, Restaurants, and Shopping Malls
Expectations for Overall Revenue Improvement in Integrated Resorts
The Chinese government has decided to allow group tours to South Korea for its citizens for the first time in over six years, raising expectations among domestic casinos and the travel industry for the return of Chinese tourists (Yukeo). Lotte Tour Development, which operates foreigner-only casinos in Jeju, has begun preparations to strengthen related personnel in anticipation of a large influx of Chinese tourists.
According to industry sources on the 11th, Lotte Tour Development, the operator of Jeju Dream Tower Complex Resort, plans to hire about 400 additional staff to operate the Dream Tower casino in the second half of the year to meet the demand for Chinese group tours. Earlier in the first half of the year, following the resumption of direct flights from China and Hong Kong, they had already increased casino staff, including dealers, by 400, and now plan to raise the total number of employees from the current 600 to over 1,000.
A representative from Lotte Tour Development said, "We expect that when Chinese group tourists enter, the mass customers visiting the casino will naturally increase. In this case, VIP 'big spender' customers, who had been cautious, will feel less restrained about visiting the casino and may increase their betting amounts." Lotte Tour Development also plans to expand Chinese-language guides and printed materials introducing facilities throughout the Jeju Dream Tower's hotel rooms, restaurants, casino, and shopping mall.
Previously, as direct flight routes between Jeju and China expanded, Dream Tower Casino achieved profitability for the first time in April since its opening in June 2021. The casino's net sales (total sales minus agent commissions) jumped from 6.493 billion KRW in January this year to 20.115 billion KRW last month, surpassing 20 billion KRW monthly for the first time. The company expects that with the resumption of Chinese group tours, not only the casino but also the overall usage and revenue of the complex resort facilities will increase.
A representative from Lotte Tour Development stated, "The Jeju Dream Tower Complex Resort has seen an increase in tourists from Asia, including China, Japan, and Taiwan, as well as Western countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada, with foreign guests now accounting for over 61% of total occupancy. When Chinese group tours resume, the number of international flights at Jeju Airport is expected to recover from about 100 weekly flights to the pre-COVID-19 level of 174 weekly flights, and the number of visitors to Dream Tower is also expected to increase."
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