Jeju tourism is facing safety concerns after police prematurely closed a missing person case and several missing people were later found dead. Domestic visitor numbers fell year-on-year on all but one day between Aug. 19 and Aug. 29, while foreign visitors helped lift total arrivals. Jeju officials and the tourism industry said the decline cannot yet be directly tied to the controversy because weekday-weekend patterns and reduced domestic flight seats also affect comparisons. The province has since met to discuss stronger safety measures for residents and tourists.
A traveler walks with luggage through the domestic arrivals area at Jeju International Airport, Sunday. Yonhap
Jeju's reputation as a safe travel destination is coming under strain after police prematurely closed a missing person case and several missing people were later found dead.
With domestic visitor numbers falling, concerns are growing over safety on the island.
According to the Jeju Tourism Association on Sunday, domestic visitor numbers fell year-on-year on all but one day between Aug. 19 and Aug. 29.
