Korean Job Discussion Forums

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

in the sense of a tourist destination? When I was there it was nice so I'm guessing it couldn't have changed (for the worse) that much. Why not do a better job advertising it?
And if it isn't that great then clean it up and make it better!

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

because Jeju has nothing going for it except that it's convenient for Koreans.

It has the the beaches, but no significant draws for international tourists. It doesn't even have any good shopping.

For this reason, it can't compete for international tourists with Thailand or even the Philippines.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

Good question and good answer.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

.......... though it seems like I heard 2 years ago they were designating it a special zone where they would have casinos-they wanted to tout it as a cross between Hawaii and Las Vegas.

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

I didn't love it, but I liked Jeju-do. It's pretty and the climate isn't Bali but it gives an extra stretch of nice weather in the spring and fall.

For me, what Jeju needs to make it international tourist friendly is food. A third of the reason I go on southeast Asian holidays is to have something -- anything -- beside Korean food 24/7. Walk down a street in Bali and there will be restaurants serving every type of cuisine from Mexican to Turkish. Walk down a street in Jeju and there will be ten restaurants all serving fish.

Combine this with casinos, as tacky as they are, with a golf course or two, add in some shopping malls and some fun street markets, and it will be a decent holiday destination. Maybe in our childrens' time it will happen.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

The powers to be have been trying to promote Jeju for YEARS! And then some. They come up with some promotion year after year and nothing works....for that matter...the whole of korea. Sure many tourists' visit korea...but very very few come back for a second visit. Tourism numbers are inflated in my opinion...they count the returning "visa run" teachers to run up the numbers to look good as well! The majority of tourist are male and after visiting korea...they return again and again to the P.I or Thailand...not back korea as much.
I don't know why korea can't attract the numbers like France, England, Australia and on and on...
China had 22 million in 2006! Korea...6 million for 2008.
Must be a reason...anyone know?
Jeju gets around 500~600 thousand a year....and how many millions in SK?!?
Not many visiting it seems.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

Anyplace that you tout as being "The ///// of (someplace)" such as "The Hawaii of Korea" is never going to attract people like the ///// place is.

Sector7G · Joined: 24 May 2008

curiousaboutkorea · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

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Cerberus · Joined: 29 Oct 2009

it's a hopeless and useless task.

the main reason, even more so than food, much more so than food

is - geography.

if they want to market it as a tourist destination, it can't compete in terms of weather, beauty and amenities with its competitors in SE Asia -
e.g. Phillippines, Thailand. I'd even prefer to go the Chinese southern island .. Hainan?

what Western tourist, if they're already flying 12 plus hours to get here will take Jeju over those destinations???

and what local tourist will go there?

the only possibility I could think of would be Japanese tourists.. and the won would have to weaken a bit more vs the yen (it's already dirt cheap) to really draw some numbers.

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 5:14 am Post subject:

1. It hasn't been spelled "Cheju" since the new romanization over 7 years ago.

2. Over 8 million people visited Jeju in 2008. Tourism is alive and well.

3. The province of Jeju is now totally self governing and is using the streamlined paperwork (of not having to get approvals and processes through Seoul ) to speed up and simplify foreign investment procedures.

4. The residents are split on the idea of casinos for Koreans, nearly half thinking it a bad idea and a third thinking it a good idea, according to a survey conducted last year. This year the decision will be made whether to allow Koreans inside the presently-foreigners' only casinos. The horsetrack is packed on a winter Saturday, not with tourists but with locals, and gambling is a source of much social tension, the locals realizing that the horsetrack which was meant to draw tourists is actually siphoning family income from the island residents. The fear is that a Koreans-allowed casino would do likewise.

5. I was at the home opener of the Jeju United K-league soccer team today and despite 3000 won tickets the World Cup stadium was only 10% full. The island has plenty of unused capacity. I have only lived here two months but if the plethora of hotels and museums and restaurants are to make any money it must be during the more touristy months of the year.

6. Jeju as a tourist destination is for the Chinese (Beijing and Shanghai) and the Japanese (Tokyo) in addition to the Koreans, and it is to East Asians that the future of Jeju tourism lies, and as such, bodes well enough.

The Happy Warrior · Joined: 10 Feb 2010

VanIslander · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:37 am Post subject:

The island is also primed to become an international convention centre. It has the basic infrastructure: airport, roads, hotels, local labour, even a few convention halls with more to be built. Some international sporting events are already held there (eg., Asia's only triathlon world championship circuit qualifying race). With the wind and beaches the growing popularity of kiteboarding could mean such a competition could be hosted, but this idea unlike the others is just mine, haven't heard anything about that.

And a major hi-tech research company bought up a few acres on the lower north face of Halla overlooking Jeju-si. The island has four universities and plans to increase its intellectual capital.

There really is a bright future for the island.

(BTW, the residents are fuming at the unilateral Seoul decision to put a naval base on Jeju, which does not help the other uses of the island being developed and sought after.)

If you want an island in Korea with gigantic development projects for tourism and industry look at Korea's second largest island: Geoje! The 50+ km bridge from Busan will be completed soon and there are a few four star hotels popping up on the island, beaches being renovated amazingly with first class tourist facilities, major road projects and a thriving billion dollar shipbuilding industry (Daewoo and Samsung shipyards). Geoje will soon be the new Jeju.

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

My 2 cents, but if I were the Korean gov., I wouldn't develop it to be an international destination anyway because

1) For the obvious reason of not spoiling its serenity for both the current tourist traffic and the residents of the island.

2) It would be a terrible waste to build an infrastucture (like more big hotels and attractions for foreign tourists) and have it go to waste 30 or 50 years from now when the international oil supply gets low or runs out and plane tickets become affordable only to the elite.

Jeju will be able to carry on as a still affordable destination for Koreans simply because it's so close. Rich Koreans may be able to fly. Others will be able to take a ferry.

As for the realier comment by VanIslander
"BTW, the residents are fuming at the unilateral Seoul decision to put a naval base on Jeju, which does not help the other uses of the island being developed and sought after."
The residents, worried about the effects of a military base on their livlihood, have to understand that the gov. is likely on their side because, they collect taxes from Jeju's tourist industry and also want Koreans to spend their money in Korea. I doubt Seoul would risk harming Jeju's tourist industry just so its soldiers can have a beach to relax on.