The number of tourists traveling to the island is slowly beginning to rebound after a slump caused by COVID-19.
The province is making efforts to keep up the growth.
Joseph Kim reports.

[slug] Jeju International Airport

This is the domestic terminal of the Jeju International Airport.
Unlike the international terminal, it is packed with people.



26,000 Koreans visited the island last weekend.
It's a 27 percent drop from the corresponding period of last year.
It's a big drop, but the rate of decline has been narrowed.
The average rate of decline was between 40 and 50 percent through last week since the COVID-19 outbreak.


Number of Visitors
Feb.16
26,000 (-27% compared with Feb.16, 2019)

Feb.9
18,000 (-43% compared with Feb.16, 2019)



INTERVIEW
Kim Ga-bin, Kim Min-seok / Visitors
We believe it's safe to travel to the island as there are no confirmed cases. Masks and hand sanitizer would be enough for disease prevention.
<인터뷰 : 김가빈 김민석/관광객>
"코로나 바이러스 때문에 걱정을 좀 했는데 아직 제주도에 확진자가 안 나왔다고 해서 마스크나 손소독제 챙겨서 예방만 잘하면 괜찮겠다 싶어서 찾아오게 됐습니다."


The booking rate for weekend domestic flights has grown to 80 percent from 50 percent in one week.

Domestic Flight Booking Rate
Fri, Feb. 7 Sat, Feb.8 Sun, Feb, 9
56% 59.5% 53%

Fri, Feb.14 Sat. Feb. 15 Sun, Feb. 16
84% 87% 81%



[slug] Cheap air tickets still available, but no tickets under 10,000 won

Some airplane tickets have sold for less than 10,000 won.
Now the ticket prices are starting to crawl up.

[slug] Tourists returning, Province trying to keep up the trend

Experts say that the tourists are returning to Jeju after a big slump for COVID-19.
To keep up the trend, the province is making efforts to bring more tourists back to the island. As for now, domestic visitors are it's focus.

INTERVIEW
Lee Jung-hwan / Representative, Province
My office is coming up with phased plans to bring tourists back to Jeju based on consultation with the Jeju Tourism Organization and the Jeju Provincial Tourism Association for promotional activities and easier accessibility.
<인터뷰 : 이중환/제주도 도민안전실장 >
"현재 우리 도는 코로나19로 묶여 있던 마케팅 예산을 단계별로 집행하기 위해 관광공사, 관광협회와 함께 국내외 마케팅, 접근성 확충 방안 등을 논의하고 단계별 전략 수립에 착수했다는 상황도…."

[slug] Province to support online promotion, discount events, group tours

The province is funding online promotions and discount events of the local tourism industry, and offering financial incentives to travel agencies that bring group tourists including school excursions.

[slug] International visitors to be next focus

Meanwhile, the province will set to work for persuading international tourists to return to the island once the corona fear recedes.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Park Byeng-june, Kim Seung-cheol
[CG] So Gi-hun

The province will make use of its clean image, but it would take some time for tourist numbers to be restored to the usual level as it is not expected for the virus to be completely contained any time soon.

Joseph Kim, KCTV