Jeju's hotels would prefer you to stay on the property

On Korea's main resort island of Jeju, hotels are trying to keep their guests close to home. Major hotel chains opening new hotels on Jeju Island and even older hotels undergoing renovation are trying to make properties more attractive to guests ..

Gimpo International Airport's domestic terminal is crowded with travelers on June 3. [YONHAP]

On Korea's main resort island of Jeju, hotels are trying to keep their guests close to home.

Major hotel chains opening new hotels on Jeju Island and even older hotels undergoing renovation are trying to make properties more attractive to guests who want to relax on their trips rather than gallivanting around the island.

The trend hasn't been hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic, which discouraged people from traveling around for the last two years, even though social distancing restrictions have largely been relaxed.

Tourism to Jeju has largely been a domestic affair since the pandemic began. According to the Jeju Tourism Association, there were 6.36 million domestic tourists visiting Jeju Island this year as of June 19, up 26 percent on year. The progression from 5 million as of May 20 to 6 million on June 11 and then to 6.36 million is the fastest increase ever.

Industry analysts say domestic tourists will continue to grow even after the pandemic ends, and international tourists will start coming too. Major hotel chains such as Grand Hyatt are ready for them.

Grand Hyatt Jeju opened in December 2020 when Covid-19 cases were surging. The hotel is a city hotel with resort-style amenities, rare on Jeju. It is 5 to 10 minutes from the Jeju International Airport by car and has both ocean and Halla Mountain views from its 38-story building.

The Grand Josun Jeju opened in January 2021. The Lotte Hotel Jeju renovated its main facilities, which were reopened in May 2021.

This year, the Parnas Hotel Jeju will open on July 22. Also opening this year are the JW Marriott Jeju Resort and Spa and Banyan Tree Cassia.

Korean luxury hotel and resort operator Ananti plans to open a hotel and resort in 2024.

“If you ask if we are building new hotels to bring in more international tourists, the answer is no,” said an industry insider. “Most of the tourists that come to Jeju Island are domestic tourists, and they made up 90 percent of the all tourists even before the pandemic.”

According to a survey conducted by the Jeju Tourism Organization, the number of domestic tourists who considered natural scenery their highest priority when considering travel to Jeju Island decreased last year to 38.9 percent, from 75.1 percent in 2019.

Respondents who said they want to relax and chill on a Jeju vacation increased from 17.4 percent in 2019 to 35.9 percent last year. People wanting to enjoy good food rose from 3.5 percent in 2019 to 9.4 percent in 2021.

Hotel guests at the Grand Hyatt Jeju enjoy time at the pool. [LOTTE TOUR]

“I just finished a big project at work so I came here to fully relax in the hotel, not to drive or go around the island,” said Lee Jae-hwa, a Seoulite who came to Jeju for a holiday. “It is nice enough for me to see clear skies and the sea from the hotel window.”

When guests want to hang out at the hotel, they prefer luxury hotels. As of this month, there are 15 five-star hotels on Jeju with rooms costing as much as 400,000 won ($309.50) per night ahead of the summer vacation season. Some 70 to 80 percent of the rooms are booked on average.

Bookings at four-star hotels in 2021 fell 43 percent compared to 2019, while those at high-end hotels surged by 65 percent, according to Shinhan Card data.

The Grand Hyatt Jeju's Lounge 38 is on the 38th floor of the hotel. [LOTTE TOUR]

Hotels are creating bigger hotel rooms and adding facilities.

Grand Hyatt Jeju currently has 1,600 suites, all with living rooms, and 14 different restaurants and bars, a swimming pool and a spa. For June weekends, around 1,000 of the suites were booked by Korean tourists.

“It costs more than 70,000 won for two people to eat galchi [beltfish] at a restaurant in Jeju Island, and eating black pork or hoe [sashimi] costs even more,” said Kim Ji-seon, a Seoul resident who visited the Grand Hyatt Jeju with a friend. “It is more cost-effective to eat at the hotel's buffet and use the all-you-can drink service, which is all included in the hotel package.”

Grand Hyatt Jeju's Corner Suite room [LOTTE TOUR]

The Parnas hotel in Jeju Island [PARNAS HOTEL]

At the Parnas Hotel, 83 of its 307 rooms are suites. At the Grand Josun Jeju, it's 72 out of 248 rooms. Some of its suite sare designed for guests with kids, costing 2 million won per night, and almost half are already booked for July and August .

A play zone in The Suite room at Grand Josun Jeju [JOSUN HOTELS & RESORTS]

Lotte Hotel Jeju has divided The Lounge & Bar, which used to offer simple meals and drinks, into an espresso bar, wine and whiskey bar and a separate space for meals to offer more diverse food and drinks. The hotel is also planning to build a separate house next to the outdoor swimming pool and open a garden later this year to bring a sense of Jeju's natural scene into the hotel.

The Wine & Whiskey Bar at Lotte Hotel Jeju [LEE SO-AH]

“There are many guests who are willing to go on an exotic yet safe and private trip after the pandemic,” said Choi Myeong-hoon, manager of the Lotte Hotel Jeju. “Tourists can still feel the nature, food and atmosphere of Jeju Island just by staying at the hotel.”

Lotte Hotel Jeju's pool [LEE SO-AH]

“Jeju Island has enough attractions for visitors to enjoy both nature and luxury at the same time,” said Lee Eun-hee, a consumer science professor at Inha University. “Luxury facilities will be favored in the future as they let travelers feel like they’re traveling abroad. Hotel chains should think about ways to show the tradition and specialties of Jeju Island through these facilities.”

BY LEE SO-AH, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]