In recent years, tourist numbers have spiked in the South Korean island, bringing with them a whole new raft of issues for the people of Jeju to deal with, leading to police action
Overtourism ills have made it to South Korea where police are cracking down on bad behaviour on a particularly popular holiday hotspot.
Misbehaving tourists have been causing ire in Jeju, the South Korean island where sub-tropically warm temperatures and natural beauty protected by World Heritage Site status attract visitors from far and wide.
In recent years, tourist numbers have spiked, bringing with them a whole new raft of issues for the people of Jeju to deal with. Jeju police have released a set of guidelines, printed in Chinese, English, and Korean, after complaints from locals about visitors littering and allowing children to urinate in the street, the BBC reports.
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Seven million tourists made it to the island last year alone, keen to view its distinctive volcanic landscape, smooth white beaches and hiking routes. Now they are being handed one of 8,000 brochures, reminding them of the social dos and don’ts.
The guide aims to “prevent misunderstandings due to language and cultural differences and improve foreigners’ understanding of Korean culture and laws”, Jeju Police Agency chief Kim Su-young has said.
Damaging nature, smoking in prohibited areas, littering, and urinating or defecating in public are all offences that will be met with fines. Equally, using a fake ID, being drunk and disorderly, or running away from restaurants without paying, as well as breaking into empty houses and jaywalking, are offences police are keen to crack down on.
The maximum fines being handed out are equal to £42, according to The Korea Times, with repeat offenders being slapped with £106 penalties.
“Officers carry the notices during patrols and hand them out when they encounter minor violations on the spot. Serious offences are dealt with immediately, but for minor ones, we usually issue the notice instead of stricter action,” an official at the Jeju Provincial Police Agency told the newspaper.
The police recorded more than 4,800 cases of disorderly conduct between March and June this year. Some of the anti-social behaviour they encountered included a woman smoking on a bus who tossed her cigarette onto the road, and a boy urinating on the road by a beach.
Fining tourists is an option that more and more authorities are turning to in destinations that struggle with tourist behaviour.
In Palma, the capital of the island of Majorca, visitors face fines of 750 euros (about £630) for food and drink from street vendors.
The ordinance covers a host of issues – vandalism, including graffiti, posters, leaflets, gambling and betting in public spaces, false begging and sexual demands, artistic performances, guided tours, littering, alcohol consumption in public, group gatherings, street vending, motorhomes, nudism, balconing as well as scooters.
One change is the regulation of electric scooters. Users will now have to be able to prove they have civil liability insurance (with a minimum coverage of €120,000) and wear an approved helmet.