South Korea’s Jeju Island mulls $6 entry fee for tourists

The proposal would be submitted to the National Assembly by the end of this year for approval, Korea Times reported.

The island authorities estimate they would collect 141 billion won in the first year and 167 billion won in the second.

They said the money would be used to conserve the environment and improve infrastructure following a tourism boom that has resulted in an overload of garbage and sewage.

An all-time high of 13.59 million tourists visited the island last year, according to the Jeju Tourism Association.

Since 2012 the administration been trying to introduce an entry fee, but faced public opposition.

Some other Southeast Asian destinations also plan to impose entry fees to improve the quality of tourism services.

Hoi An earlier this month announced fees of VND120,000 ($5) for foreigners and VND80,000 ($3.40) for Vietnamese entering the old town starting June, with the money to be used to improve infrastructure, restore downgraded relics and organize tourism events.

But the proposal faced a public backlash and has been put on hold.

Indonesia’s Bali is also considering entry fees for foreign tourists from the end of this year.