China Overtakes Japan and Taiwan as Jeju Island’s Biggest Tourism Driver, Fueling South Korea’s Explosive 2026 Visitor Recovery – All You Need to Know

Written By: Pappu Mazumder

Pappu Mazumder

I bring a journalist’s perspective to the travel and tourism industry, contributing to Travel and Tour World through engaging storytelling, industry insights, and creative ideas. I focus on exploring emerging trends, highlighting key developments, and sharing meaningful stories that connect the global travel community while inspiring curiosity, innovation, and discovery.

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July 14, 2026 11:41 PM

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China has emerged as Jeju Island’s biggest tourism driver, leading Japan and Taiwan with 613,112 visitors as South Korea’s island destination records a 21.5% surge in foreign arrivals in 2026.

South Korea’s Jeju Island has recorded a major international tourism recovery in 2026, with foreign tourist arrivals climbing 21.5 per cent year-on-year to 955,748 during the first five months of the year. The strong growth has pushed overseas visitor numbers close to the one-million mark, strengthening Jeju’s position as one of Asia’s most attractive island destinations.

The latest figures from the Jeju Tourism Organization show that the island welcomed nearly 5.64 million visitors between January and May 2026. While domestic tourism continued to grow, international arrivals expanded at a much faster rate, supported by rising demand from major Asian markets, especially mainland China, Taiwan and Japan.

Jeju’s tourism rebound is also creating positive momentum for its foreigner-only casino industry. The island, home to eight foreigner-only casino licences, has seen increased visitor activity alongside record gaming revenue growth. Major properties, including Jeju Dream Tower, have reported higher casino income and stronger visitor numbers as international travel continues to recover.

Jeju Island Welcomes 5.64 Million Visitors as International Tourism Growth Accelerates

Jeju Island recorded approximately 5.64 million visitor arrivals from January to May 2026, representing a 9.8 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2025. The latest performance highlights the island’s continued recovery as both domestic and overseas travellers return in larger numbers.

Domestic visitors remained the largest segment of Jeju’s tourism market, contributing nearly 4.69 million arrivals during the first five months. This represented a 7.7 per cent year-on-year increase, showing continued interest among South Korean travellers visiting the island for holidays, nature experiences and cultural attractions.

However, the strongest expansion came from international tourism. Foreign tourist arrivals reached 955,748 between January and May 2026, rising 21.5 per cent compared with the previous year. The rapid increase demonstrates growing global demand for Jeju’s beaches, volcanic landscapes, cultural heritage sites and unique island experiences.

The island’s tourism momentum continued into May 2026, when Jeju welcomed almost 1.21 million visitors in a single month. Domestic travellers accounted for 963,994 arrivals, while foreign visitor numbers reached 241,555, marking a 12.6 per cent increase year-on-year.

Although domestic arrivals declined by 7.1 per cent in May, stronger international demand helped maintain overall visitor growth. The latest figures indicate that overseas travellers are becoming an increasingly important part of Jeju’s tourism recovery strategy.

Mainland China Remains Jeju’s Largest International Tourism Market in 2026

Mainland China continued to dominate Jeju Island’s foreign visitor market during the first five months of 2026. Chinese travellers accounted for the largest share of international arrivals, confirming China’s importance as Jeju’s leading overseas tourism source.

Between January and May 2026, Jeju welcomed 613,112 visitors from mainland China. This represented 64.2 per cent of all foreign arrivals to the island during the period. Chinese visitor numbers increased by 3.9 per cent year-on-year, maintaining China’s position as Jeju’s biggest international market.

The island’s visa-free entry programme for visitors from mainland China and other selected regional markets has played an important role in supporting inbound tourism growth. Easier travel access has helped encourage more visitors to choose Jeju as a short-haul international holiday destination.

Beyond China, Jeju also recorded significant growth from other major Asian markets. Taiwan became the island’s second-largest overseas source market during the first five months of 2026, contributing 134,760 visitors.

Taiwanese arrivals increased by an impressive 102.2 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier. The sharp rise reflects stronger travel demand between Taiwan and Jeju, supported by improved connectivity and increasing interest in island tourism experiences.

Japan ranked as Jeju’s third-largest international market, with 41,861 visitors recorded between January and May 2026. Japanese arrivals surged by 99.3 per cent year-on-year, showing strong recovery from one of Northeast Asia’s most important travel markets.

The growth across China, Taiwan and Japan demonstrates that Jeju’s international tourism recovery is becoming more balanced, with multiple Asian markets contributing to visitor growth.

Jeju’s Tourism Revival Supports Record Growth in Foreign Visitor Casino Sector

The increase in international arrivals is also strengthening Jeju’s foreigner-only casino industry, which depends heavily on overseas visitors. Tourism growth has provided an important foundation for the sector’s expansion, with casinos benefiting from increased international mobility and higher visitor spending.

Jeju’s casino industry generated record gross gaming revenue of KRW646.50 billion ($429.5 million) in 2025. This represented a 40.8 per cent increase compared with 2024, highlighting strong growth across the island’s gaming sector.

The performance reflects rising international visitor volumes and growing demand from key overseas markets. As Jeju attracts more foreign travellers, casino operators have experienced stronger customer activity and improved financial performance.

Among the island’s major casino properties, Jeju Dream Tower has emerged as a key contributor to industry growth. Operated by Lotte Tour Development, the integrated resort has continued to report increasing gaming revenue and visitor numbers during 2026.

The property’s growth demonstrates how tourism recovery and hospitality development are becoming closely connected. As more international travellers arrive in Jeju, demand has increased for entertainment, accommodation, dining and leisure experiences.

Jeju Dream Tower Records Strong Casino Revenue Growth in 2026

Jeju Dream Tower has reported significant growth in casino performance during 2026, reflecting the wider expansion of Jeju’s international tourism market.

Casino revenue at Jeju Dream Tower reached KRW48.72 billion ($31.3 million) in June 2026, representing a 36.1 per cent increase compared with the same month in the previous year. During the same period, casino visitation increased by 18.7 per cent, reaching 61,146 visitors.

The property continued its strong performance during the first half of 2026. Casino revenue totalled KRW265.72 billion ($170.6 million) during the first six months, marking a 36.6 per cent year-on-year increase.

The operator has described 2026 as a new utilisation phase for the property following an earlier development and market expansion period. Increased brand awareness, higher gaming activity and stronger visitor numbers have contributed to the resort’s improved performance.

During the first quarter of 2026, casino revenue at Jeju Dream Tower increased by 40.3 per cent year-on-year to KRW118.6 billion ($78.5 million). Casino drop, which measures the total amount wagered by players, also increased by 35.0 per cent to KRW650.5 billion ($430.3 million).

These results highlight the growing connection between Jeju’s tourism performance and its entertainment economy. Rising foreign arrivals are supporting broader growth across hotels, casinos, restaurants and leisure businesses.

Jeju Island Strengthens Position as a Leading Northeast Asian Tourism Destination

The latest tourism figures show that Jeju Island is entering a stronger phase of international recovery in 2026. With foreign arrivals approaching one million during the first five months alone, the island is benefiting from renewed travel demand across Northeast Asia.

Mainland China remains the foundation of Jeju’s inbound tourism market, while rapid growth from Taiwan and Japan is adding further strength to the island’s international visitor base.

The combination of visa-free access, improved regional connectivity, natural attractions and expanding hospitality facilities continues to enhance Jeju’s appeal among global travellers.

At the same time, rising foreign visitor numbers are creating new opportunities for Jeju’s tourism-related industries, particularly the foreigner-only casino sector. Record gaming revenue and increased visitation at properties such as Jeju Dream Tower demonstrate the economic impact of international tourism growth.

As travel demand continues to strengthen across Asia, Jeju Island is positioning itself as a leading destination offering a combination of nature, culture, entertainment and premium tourism experiences. The island’s 2026 performance indicates that international tourism will remain a key driver of economic growth in the years ahead.