The Jeju Provincial Tourism Association plans to launch a new bus service for tourists, but critics say it will be another waste of taxpayers’ money, just like the previous bus service it offered. Mike Balfour reports.




Report

[slug]
Jeju Golden Tour Bus service ends

The Jeju Golden Tour Bus was introduced in 2014.

The three-year term of the business license will expire at the end of this month.

The Jeju Provincial Tourism Association proposed the service to to the province. Unfortunately, the three years of performance were below expectations.

[slug]
Average of only 50 passengers daily

On average, the bus has had only about 50 passengers a day. That was half of the association’s target.

An accumulated deficit of over 1 billion won was covered by tax payers’ money.

[slug]
Critics decry launch of new bus service

Following the failure of the Golden Tour, the Jeju Provincial Tourism Association is introducing a new type of a sightseeing bus. Controversy is growing among islanders.


Like the Jeju Golden Tour Bus, the province granted the bus tour business. The Jeju Free International City Development Center purchased a 600 million won double-decker bus. The Jeju Provincial Tourism Association will operate the tour.

The province will allocate more than 400 million won every year for the new project.


[slug]
‘White elephant’ vs. ‘needed transport infrastructure’

Opinion is divided over the introduction of the new sightseeing bus. Some say the bus will be another white elephant, while the others say it is necessary as Jeju needs transportation for tourists.

The tourism association explains that the sightseeing bus is needed for the island’s self-reliance in the tourism sector.

Recording
Kim Jeong-ju / Jeju Provincial Tourism Association
Jeju is a tourist destination, so the sightseeing bus is considered transport infrastructure for individual tourists who want to visit traditional markets and tourist attractions.
<씽크:김정주/제주도관광협회 본부장>
"제주도가 관광지이기 때문에 상징성을 가지고 전통시장과 시내 관광지를 개별 관광객이 이용할 수 있도록 하는 인프라 구축 차원입니다."

[slug]
‘Waste of money’

The provincial council argues that it’s typically a waste of budget and it is contradictory to talk about self-reliance while spending islanders’ tax money.

Recording
Kim Myeong-man / Provincial councilor
The association does not understand current trends. The expensive bus could be a symbol of the island, but running it at a deficit does not improve self-reliance.
<씽크:김명만/제주도의회 의원>
"시대흐름을 모르고 그 많은 예산 낭비하고 상징성 될지 모르겠지만 분명히 자생력을 강화하겠다고 했는데 적자 보는데 자생력이 강화되는 것입니까?"

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Kim Yong-min

The tourism association is planning to start to operate the sightseeing bus in November.

Meanwhile, controversy over the expensive operation of the sightseeing bus is not expected to die down.

Mike Balfour, KCTV