Jeju Island has rolled out the ‘2026 Jeju Tourism & Shopping Festa,’ a significant promotional event running through July and August. This initiative, spearheaded by the Jeju provincial government and the Jeju Tourism Organization, is designed to capitalize on the recent surge in international visitors by encouraging local spending. Foreign tourists using select overseas mobile payment services can now enjoy discounts of up to 20% at roughly 32,000 businesses across the island that are affiliated with Zero Pay.
The participating merchants span a wide spectrum of the local economy, including traditional markets, restaurants, cafes, popular tourist attractions, retail outlets, and even public transportation services. This move aims to enhance payment convenience for international visitors and, crucially, to drive sales for local small businesses, thereby distributing tourism revenue more broadly throughout Jeju’s economy.
Specific benefits are tailored for users of popular Asian mobile payment platforms. For instance, Chinese Alipay+ users can access coupons for up to three 20% discounts, with a cap of 30 yuan (approximately $4.40) per transaction. Other users of mobile wallets such as AlipayHK (Hong Kong), GCash (Philippines), Touch ‘n Go eWallet (Malaysia), MPay (Macau), and TrueMoney (Thailand) are eligible for a 20% discount up to five times, with a maximum saving of 5,000 won (around $3.20) per transaction.
Jeju has experienced a notable increase in foreign arrivals, with over 1.21 million tourists recorded in the first half of the year – a 19.5% jump from the previous year, largely attributed to expanded international flight routes. This tourism influx has also benefited sectors like Jeju’s casino industry, with establishments such as Jeju Dream Tower Integrated Resort reporting record revenues. The Jeju Tourism Organization is committed to bolstering on-site promotions and intensifying overseas marketing efforts to ensure the success of this campaign, fostering a beneficial economic ecosystem for both visitors and local businesses.
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