Jeju residents seem split almost 50:50 on whether having foreigner-only casinos there, promotes inbound tourism from overseas to the South Korean holiday island, and boosts the spending of such visitors that do come.
That is according to a survey among a 1,000-strong sample of locals that was conducted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The results of this year’s poll were announced in a Wednesday statement.
A narrow majority, i.e., 50.4 percent of respondents, agreed with a proposition that the island’s eight casinos had helped increase inbound travel from abroad, and boosted the local economy. Another 30.5 percent were neutral, and 19.1 percent disagreed with the proposition.
Last year’s survey also produced equivocal views on the value of casinos. The semi-autonomous island has some oversight of the local casino sector.
Industry experts spoken to by GGRAsia recently, suggested Jeju’s foreign-tourism business – and the forturnes of the island’s eight casinos – could be improved by enhanced marketing and better direct air links with other countries.
Among other findings from this year’s survey of Jeju residents, were that 56.4 percent of respondents did agree the local casino sector increased foreign travellers’ spending. A further 26.7 percent were neutral, and 16.9 percent disagreed.
On the issue of whether the island’s casino businesses contributed to local employment, 51.3 percent of respondents agreed, 30.9 percent were neutral, and 17.8 percent disagreed.
This year’s survey also revealed that 50.4 percent said Jeju casinos increased the island’s fiscal income, 30.5 percent were neutral, and 16.9 percent disagreed.
The 2025 poll indicated 56.1 percent agreed that the island’s casinos had attracted foreign capital, 28.3 percent were neutral, and 15.6 percent disagreed.
The survey found that 37.6 percent agreed with a proposition that Jeju’s casino sector had damaged the island’s brand value and tourism image. A further 33.1 percent were neutral, and 29.3 percent disagreed.
A total of 30.8 percent of respondents believed the local authorities should give more support to the island’s casino sector. In terms of government supervision for the sector, 39.5 percent of respondents this time wanted “more supervision”. This year 29.7 percent were neutral on that topic.
When asked about the impact of Jeju casinos on Jeju society, 32.4 percent of respondents this time saw them as having a positive effect; 30.6 percent thought them a negative, and 37.0 percent were neutral.
