"With That Money, I'd Travel Abroad"... Jeju Takes Drastic Measures Against Plummeting Tourist Numbers and Price Gouging Reputation

Jeju Overhauls Group Tourism Incentives
"Tamnaneujeon" Now Provided Immediately Upon Arrival at the Airport

Group tourists visiting Jeju will now be able to receive the local currency, Tamnaneujeon, immediately upon arrival at Jeju Airport.

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On June 10, the Jeju Provincial Government announced a comprehensive overhaul of its group tourism incentive policy. The plan is to significantly expand the eligibility for support and to switch to a system where Tamnaneujeon is distributed on-site, aiming to maximize the positive impact on the local economy.

Previously, incentive support was limited to general groups (recruited by travel agencies), school trips, ferry groups, sisterhood or partnership organizations, and alumni associations. Now, the scope has been expanded to include clubs, sports teams, and other types of groups. However, participants in nationwide events held in Jeju who already receive subsidies, or those seeking duplicate support for the same event, are excluded from eligibility.

The method of support has also changed. Instead of the previous lump-sum post-settlement process, Tamnaneujeon will now be distributed individually on-site after verifying flight tickets as soon as visitors arrive at Jeju Airport. Previously, travelers had to go through a settlement process after their trip, but now they will receive cash-equivalent benefits immediately upon arrival. Since March, Jeju has been providing 30,000 won per person, up to a maximum of 2 million won, to alumni associations and clubs visiting Jeju with 15 or more people. For sisterhood or partnership organizations, the support is 30,000 won per person, up to a maximum of 6 million won, for groups of 20 or more.

A Jeju official explained, "Our strategy is to ensure that tourists can feel the benefits from the moment they set foot in Jeju, and to make sure that the support funds are immediately spent within the local economy."

With the revised group tourism incentives, Jeju tourism appears to be regaining vitality. As of June 5, a total of 509 applications had been submitted for group incentive support, covering 30,067 people. The provincial government expects the number of applications to increase further once the policy changes are officially announced.

Meanwhile, Jeju had previously experienced a sharp decline in domestic tourists due to issues such as price gouging. According to the Jeju Tourism Big Data Service Platform, the cumulative number of domestic visitors to Jeju by March this year was 2.37 million, a 15.1% decrease compared to the same period last year. Total consumption in Jeju also dropped by 14.4% year-on-year to 440 billion won.