Jeju Island Records 1.9% Drop in Domestic Tourism

THE NEWS: Domestic tourist arrivals on Jeju Island fell 1.9 % year‑on‑year to 1,014,027 in August 2026, prompting provincial authorities to double CCTV video‑retention to 60 days and expand AI‑powered surveillance to 75 percent of public zones by 2030.

DETAILS:

WHY IT MATTERS: The safety upgrades give both domestic and international travelers greater confidence on Jeju’s remote trails and crowded attractions, while sustained foreign‑tourist growth and consistently high flight load factors keep the island a viable market for airlines and tourism operators despite the domestic slump.

FAQ

What was the percentage change in domestic tourist arrivals to Jeju Island in August 2026?
Domestic tourist arrivals on Jeju Island fell 1.9 % year‑on‑year in August 2026, dropping to 1,014,027 visitors, according to data released by the Jeju Tourism Organization. The decline followed safety concerns and reduced airline seat capacity.

How are Jeju authorities improving visitor safety after the domestic travel drop?
To boost safety, Jeju’s provincial government is extending public CCTV video‑retention from 30 to 60 days and raising AI‑powered surveillance coverage from 58 % to a 75 % goal by 2030. It is also creating rapid missing‑person alert links between hotels, car‑rental agencies and police, plus multilingual emergency signs at trails and beaches.

Did overall visitor numbers to Jeju increase despite the domestic decline?
Overall visitor volume grew, with total arrivals reaching 1,267,061 in August 2026—a 1.1 % year‑on‑year increase—thanks to strong inbound traffic from China, Japan, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian markets, which offset the domestic downturn.

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