A current analysis of the tourism situation in Jeju and an assessment of the island’s potential as an attractive casino gaming and tourism destination.
Jeju Island (a territory of the Republic of South Korea) is now a popular destination for South Koreans, attracting nearly five million tourists last year. A new geopolitical development promises to alter forever the tourism trajectory of this island. As of July 1, 2006 Jeju has been awarded Free International City status – a status similar to that of Hong Kong and Singapore – to boost economic development for the city and the Korean Republic. The author believes that Jeju could become the next significant opportunity for the global casino gaming industry if it is able to take full advantage of its new free city administration status. This includes the creation of a well-regulated and robust environment for multi-billion dollar integrated resort developments that contain casino gaming facilities.
