Jeju Island struggled even when tourists returned

The number of tourists to Jeju (Korea) has almost returned to the level before Covid-19. However, they complain about the expensive island, while the locals fear spreading the virus.
According to the South China Morning Post In 2018, tourism overload is a pain across Asia, with destinations from Boracay (Philippines) to Maya Bay (Thailand) under control after too many tourists visit.

South Korea’s Jeju Island was also affected by the number of people flocking to visit that year. Kang Won-bo, a resident of Jeju, lamented to The Korea Times : “Local people face the tension from the crowd and noise. Many people remember how peaceful this place was. In 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, disrupting international tourism and turning popular tourist spots crowded into “ghost towns”. In the case of Jeju, the island goes back to the quiet days in the past. However, that is not as happy as many people think. Jeju Island is the most famous resort in Korea. Photo: SCMP. Dilemma Located at one end of the world’s busiest domestic flight route, connecting the island with South Korea’s capital Seoul, Jeju is witnessing an increase in domestic tourist arrivals, making up for a shortage of tourists. international. According to the Yonhap This island welcomed 880,000 tourists in March, equaling 85% of the level before the great enemy Covid-19 (1.03 million in March 2019). However, both the local residents and the outsiders don’t seem too happy about it. . A recent Jeju Tourism Organization report found that 54.9% of the island’s tourists were “unsatisfied with the price”, up from 29.1% in 2019. Compared to other destinations in Korea such as Busan or Gangwon, “Jeju is the only place where actual spending exceeds tourist budget estimates.” The Jeju government is puzzled by the return of domestic tourists. Photo: CNN. Meanwhile, Jeju residents feel inconvenient due to the influx of people despite the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They also feel that the tourism industry has disrupted public order and invaded private life more than in 2018. A Jeju official told Yonhap : “Covid-19 cases are on the rise as tourism becomes more active in April. Of the 12 confirmed viral infections on the island during the first 7 days of the month, November was a tourist from the mainland or a resident. Local people spread from tourists. Even more, many people still set foot on the island despite having symptoms of suspected Covid-19 “. Despite all this, the island claims to tighten tourism, according to a senior official of the Jeju Tourism Organization. , “Residents are concerned about SARS-CoV-2 infection from tourists, but they also know that the island’s economy will also suffer if the tourism industry stagnates.” Like many famous tourist destinations in the world, Jeju seems to be “half alive” even when tourists come or not. .