From the 12th to the 18th, over 297,000 people headed to Jeju
Next week, the number of tourists visiting Jeju this year is expected to exceed 10 million
It is expected that nearly 300,000 tourists will visit Jeju during this year's Chuseok holiday. As early as next week, the number of tourists visiting Jeju this year is expected to exceed 10 million.
On the 12th, Jeju Province and the Jeju Tourism Association announced that about 297,000 people are expected to visit Jeju using flights and ships from the 12th to the 18th, when the Chuseok homecoming traffic begins.
This is a 5.6% decrease compared to about 314,600 people during the same period last year. For domestic flights, the number dropped by 12%, from 251,827 last year to 221,600 this year. The number of domestic flight seats supplied decreased by 5.5%, from 309,648 seats last year to 292,515 seats this year.
The number of visitors arriving by domestic ships also decreased by 32.8%, from 42,394 last year to 28,500 this year. On the other hand, international flights increased by 61.2%, from 17,864 last year to 28,800 this year, due to tourists from China and others. International ship passengers also increased from 2,517 last year to 18,100 this year.
From the beginning of this year until the 9th, the total number of tourists visiting Jeju was 9,677,313 (8,314,560 domestic tourists and 1,362,753 foreign tourists).
This is a 4.2% increase compared to 9,288,915 during the same period last year. The number of domestic tourists in Jeju surpassed 8 million on the 30th of last month. Foreign tourists exceeded 1 million for the first time since COVID-19, as of July 16.
Among foreign tourists, the increase in Taiwanese tourists is remarkable. It was recorded to have exceeded 100,000 for the first time this year. Taiwanese tourists have already surpassed last year's record of 69,941 and the all-time high of 87,981 in 2019.
Some beaches in Jeju Island, including Geumnung, Hyeopjae, Gwakji, Hamdeok, and Ihoteu, have opened early. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Tourism Association analyzed, "The increase in Taiwanese tourists seems to be due to the daily (21 flights per week) direct flights operated by three airlines connecting Taiwan and Jeju, as well as improved accessibility through cruise arrivals."
Although the number of foreign tourists visiting Jeju via international flights and ships has increased, domestic tourists have decreased due to the reduction in domestic flight seat supply. By date, 38,000 people are expected on the 12th, 44,000 on the 13th, 46,000 on the 14th, 50,000 on the 15th, 43,000 on the 16th, and 38,000 each on the 17th and 18th.
Jeju Province expects the annual number of tourists to exceed 10 million around the Chuseok holiday (13th?18th) and the Chinese National Day (October 1st?7th).
A representative from the Tourism Association said, "Due to a 60% (-3.8%) decrease in domestic flights compared to last year and a reduction of 17,133 seats (-5.5%), the number of visitors arriving during the same period last year has decreased. However, with the increase in foreign tourists, especially Taiwanese tourists, the number of visitors to Jeju is expected to surpass 10 million next week."
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