Beach Amenity Fees Reduced for Second Consecutive Year
Expansion of Pet-Friendly Beaches and Extended Nighttime Hours
As more people opt to take their summer vacations earlier to save costs and avoid crowds?forming what is known as the "early summer vacation group"?Jeju Province has decided to open its beaches earlier and improve their operations.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced that six beaches in the province will open early on June 24. Pixabay
On May 21, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced that six beaches in the province?Hyeopjae, Geumneung, Gwakji, Hamdeok, Iho, and Woljeong?will open early on June 24. The remaining two beaches, Gimnyeong and Samyang, will operate as usual from July 1 to August 31.
Reflecting the demand from vacationers, the province will also extend operating hours at four beaches?Hyeopjae, Iho, Woljeong, and Samyang?on a trial basis from July 15 to August 15. Woljeong and Samyang will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., while Hyeopjae and Iho, which are equipped with nighttime lighting, will extend their hours until 9 p.m.
Water safety management will also be strengthened. In line with the beach openings, 236 civilian safety personnel will be deployed. Of these, 196 will be selected through physical fitness tests and interviews, while 40 will be hired directly by local towns and districts. In addition to beaches, these personnel will also be responsible for safety management in coastal waters, such as Donggimnyeong Port, where accidents have recently become more frequent.
Furthermore, in response to criticism over price gouging and unreasonable pricing structures, the province will maintain a 50% reduction in rental fees for beach amenities for the second consecutive year. Parasol rentals will be set at 20,000 won and platform rentals at 30,000 won, with these standardized prices applied at all 12 beaches in the province.
There are also notable accommodations for vacationers with pets. This year, the eastern side (the second beach) of Hamdeok Beach has been designated as a specialized beach where pets are allowed to swim with their owners.
In addition, Jeju is accelerating its "high value-for-money Jeju tourism" project by promoting reasonable pricing and friendly service across all sectors, including lodging, transportation, restaurants, tourist attractions, travel agencies, and golf courses.
This series of changes comes amid a growing sense of crisis in the Jeju tourism industry. The number of domestic tourists visiting Jeju has been steadily declining. In January, the figure was 860,213, down 11.9% from the same period last year (976,888). On an annual basis, the number of visitors has continued to decrease: 13.8 million in 2022, 12.66 million in 2023 (down 8.3%), and an estimated 11.86 million in 2024 (down 6.3%).
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