Vacationers move to a rental car parking lot after landing at Jeju International Airport, the gateway to Jeju Island, on July 10, 2021. (Yonhap)
JEJU, July 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Jeju’s tourism industry is facing a downturn due to concerns about the resurging pandemic, coupled with rising prices, interest rates, and exchange rates.
The Jeju Tourism Organization reported that more than 40,000 visitors have been coming to the southern resort island every day since April, after the end of government-imposed social distancing policies.
However, the number has dropped to 37,415.5 people per day in July, despite the summer season reaching its peak.
This is largely attributed to the rising cost of a round-trip flight to Jeju, with the expense now more than 1 million won (US$760) for four people, as well as the exorbitant cost of car rentals.
The reservation rate at four and five-star hotels is holding steady around 80 to 90 percent, but three-star hotels or lower, which depend primarily on group tours, are struggling with cancellations every now and then.
The original plan among travel agencies in Jeju to come up with a flight package to Vietnam every month between September and December has also been dropped due to rising flight costs.
“Non-group travelers have come to Jeju a lot, even during the pandemic. The problem lies in the recovery of group travel. If it continues to be like this, the prospects for Jeju tourism in the latter part of this year look pretty dim,” an industry official said.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
