Sales in the tourism sector polarized last year in Jeju.
Sales in duty free shops and casinos sharply increased, meanwhile sales in restaurants, accommodations, transportation businesses decreased.
Joseph Kim reports.

14.7 million people visited the island last year.
That’s a three percent decrease from the year before.

14.7M visitors in 2018
3% drop from 2017


However, sales in the tourism sector significantly increased in the year.


Last year’s gross income in the sector recorded 6.5 trillion won, which is up 15 percent from a year before.

Gross Income in Tourism Sector
?\ 6.5T
15%↑ from 2018


An increase in spending by non-Koreans led the growth.

[slug] Spending by foreigners increases, DFS and Casino grow
The growth was mainly made in local duty free shops and casino businesses.


Spending by foreigners increased 55 percent at retail businesses including duty free shops and 185 percent at businesses related to arts, sports and leisure including casino businesses in 2018.


Spent by Non-Koreans in 2018
Retails(DFS included) 55%↑↑
Arts, sports, leisure(casino included) 185%↑



Especially, sales at the Landing Casino in Seogwipo hit 385 billion won for the first time last year. It was a dramatic increase from just 17 billion won in 2017.

[slug] Sales at Landing Casino ?\17B in 2017→?\385B in 2018

Meanwhile, sales at accommodations, restaurants and transport businesses that can directly contribute to the economy of local households decreased.


Income in 2018
(Source: Jeju Tourism Organization)
Accommodation, restaurant, transportation
2017
2018 3%↓


[slug] Economic downturn, low accessibility contribute to drop in Korean visitors
It is because of the sharp decrease in the number of Koreans visiting Jeju as a result of the economic downturn and low accessibility to the island.
The Jeju Tourism Organization says that the increase in the number of Korean visitors is the key to income growth in the sectors that help the local economy.

INTERVIEW
Ko Seon-yeong / Representative, Jeju Tourism Organization
Statistics say that Korean visitors spend at various retail stores including restaurants, accommodations and transportation businesses that can help the local economy in Jeju. And their spending is not limited to tourist attractions.
<인터뷰 : 고선영/제주관광공사 연구분석센터장>
"(내국인 소비패턴을 보면) 실제 도민들이 체감할 수 있는 면세점을 제외한 소매업이라든지 음식점업, 숙박업, 운수업 이런 쪽에서 굉장히 다양하게 소비가 일어나는 것을 확인할 수 있습니다. 그뿐만 아니라 지역적으로도 특정 지역이 아니고 읍·면 지역까지 다양하게….  "

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol
[CG] Yu Byeong-gyu

The organization adds that spending by non-Koreans now only focused on duty free shops and casino businesses needs to be diversified by creating businesses in which foreigners can loosen the purse strings.

Joseph Kim, KCTV