Return of school trips gives Jeju relief from drop in Chinese tourists

The scenic island is traditionally popular for honeymoon trips and has been drawing tourists from China in large numbers. Chinese investors are also big clients in Jeju's property market.

South Korea's decision to host a US anti-missile defense system, however, had afflicted the China-led boom, with Beijing forbidding group tour packages to South Korea. The island's tourism business was further hurt by the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry in April 2014 that killed more than 300 people. Most of the victims were high school students who were on a school trip to Jeju.

More than 600,000 students had come to Jeju in 2011 on school trips. The number stayed above 500,000 until the Sewol sinking, after which it dropped to 170,200 in 2014. It picked up somewhat to 257,300 in 2015 and to 242,900 last year.

The association said it expects this year's number of student visitors to meet the 2015 level.

The tour bus business was already showing signs of recovery, association officials said, with 60 to 70 percent of the buses now in operation. The reservation rate is up more than 20 percent compared to same period last year, they said.

Reservation rates at large lodging facilities were also increasing, reaching 50 to 65 percent, officials said.

"We have been participating at city and provincial school workshops across the country to promote Jeju and induce school trips," an official said. "We expect the student trips to increase more in the second half of the year." (Yonhap)