The increasing numbers of people moving to and visiting the island are intensifying traffic and environmental problems. The Bank of Korea says tourists should help pay to mitigate the issues. Mike Balfour reports.

The influx of people moving to Jeju is accelerating. Last year 14,000 people moved down to the island from the mainland, a 35 fold increase compared with 2010.

4,180 mainlanders moved to Jeju during the first quarter of this year. That's 38 percent more than the corresponding period of last year.

Over 10 million tourists come to the island every year.

Each household has 1.7 cars registered and every islander and tourist make 1.73 kilograms of trash, the largest proportion in the nation.

In an analysis report, The Bank of Korea says that over 10 percent of traffic and environmental problems are caused by tourists.

It suggests that the province implement an impact surcharge.

INTERVIEW
Yi Jeong-gi / Bank of Korea
Environmental impact fees should be imposed on tourists who contribute to pollution and traffic congestion.
<인터뷰 : 이정기/한국은행 제주본부 경제조사팀 조사역>
"환경부담금 등 오염자 부담금 원칙(PPP)을 적용해서 제주로 들어오는 인구에 대해 환경부담금을 부과해야..."

The province and the provincial council are organizing a committee to look at the adoption of environmental impact fees.

INTERVIEW
Kim Tae-seok / Provincial council member
I believe that the introduction of environmental impact fees would help mitigate pollution and keep the island's ecological cycle sound.
<인터뷰 : 김태석/제주도의회 의원>
"섬이 갖는 자연생태 순환성을 유지해야 된다는 측면에서 환경부담금, 입도세 등 어떤 형태의 부담금이 필요하다고 보는데 원인자부담금의 원칙에 의해서도 가능하다고 봅니다."

[REPORTER] Mike Balfour

The province has yet to make a decision on the introduction of environmental impact fees.

Mike Balfour KCTV