Researchers, tourism industry insiders, and Jeju people are again thinking about increasing or instituting admission fees to the island's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Proponents say better protection and management are needed as the sites have reached a saturation point. But, the province is still against the plan. Mike Laidman reports.

The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the American West’s landmark tourist destinations. The park charges entrance fees depending on the number of visitors in a group.

Vehicles with capacity of 1-25 are charged a flat fee of 8 dollars per person. Vehicles with a capacity of 26 or greater are charged a flat fee of 300 dollars.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination. Admission rates vary depending on the number of days a person stays.

Entry for a single day is 10 dollars, while three days costs 20 dollars.

[slug]
‘Natural heritage sites should charge an entry fee’

Some researchers and tourism insiders are arguing that Jeju Island should increase its current admission rates or else begin charging fees for entry into its World Natural Heritage sites, much like the aforementioned international destinations.

They insist that an appropriate entry fee system be established and that the island use this money to provide better services to visitors.

INTERVIEW
Im Jong-deok / National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage
We need to find out how many people visit the heritage sites, whether they visit individually or in groups, and how long they stay. We can then develop an appropriate entry fee for each site.
<인터뷰: 임종덕/ 국립문화재연구소 학예연구관>
"단체로 많이 왔는지, 개인으로 많이 왔는지, 이분들이 왔을 때 어떠한 시간을 갖고 관찰을 했는지 분석할 필요가 있고요. 거기에 맞춤형으로 여러 가지 프로그램을 준비한다면 보다 더 내실 있는..."

A few years ago, groups had different views on charging admission. But now, representatives from environmental, research, and tourism organizations are all agreeing that a fee should be charged to cover environmental protection.

Sync
Gang Man-saeng / Jeju UNESCO World Natural Heritage Committee
Entry fees should be increased at Manjanggul Lava Tube and Seongsan Sunrise Peak. An admission fee should be charged for Hallasan Mountain, too...
<싱크: 강만생/ 제주세계자연유산위원회 위원장>
"만장굴, 성산일출봉에 대해서는 일부 요금이 징수되고 있는 상황에서 대폭적인 요금 인상과 더불어 무료로 입장하고 있는 한라산에 대해서는 입장료를 징수하는..."

Sync
Go Seung-cheol / Jeju Tourism Association
We hope that visitors would be more satisfied with the sites and that the decrease from 3 million to 1 million people would help environmental protection efforts. The 2 million tourists might instead to nearby tourist attractions.
<싱크: 고승철/ 제주관광협회 부회장>
"만족도도 높아지고, 자연유산도 300만 명이 밟은 것보다는 100만 명으로 줄었기 때문에 덜 망가질 겁니다. 200만 명은 옆으로 분산되게 되어 있습니다."

However, the province is against an entry fee increase because it could lead to a cutback in national funding.

An environmentalist says better justification for admission fees is needed and that the island should try to persuade stakeholders instead.

Sync
Lee Yeong-ung / Jeju Federation of Environmental Movements
We need firm justification for the fee increase and should persuade stakeholders.
<싱크: 이영웅/ 제주환경운동연합 사무처장>
"타당성이 확실하게 서야 될 것 같아요. 논리가 있어야 되는 거죠. 그리고 또 하나는 그러면 징수를 하는 이해관계자들에 대한 설득이 필요한데..."

[camera]
Kim Yong-min

[reporter]
Mike Laidman

The provincial council is planning to seek input and revise its stance on the entry fee increase.

Groups never reached an agreement on the issue over the past number of years because of strong opposition from tourism businesses. This time, however, things could go differently.

Mike Laidman, KCTV