Korea's southern resort island of Jeju is looking to introduce a special tax on tourists,... dubbed an "environmental tax,"... to try to address the increasing costs of preserving Jeju's pristine environment. <br />Kim Hyo-sun tells us more. <br /> Jeju Island is considering levying an environmental tax for visitors in the coming years. <br />The number of tourists to Jeju Island has increased steadily to reach nearly 14-point-seven million last year.<br />Jeju Island officials say the influx of tourists has led to increased pollution, waste and traffic congestion.<br />As a result,... clean-up costs are mounting. <br /><br /> "Surveys conducted on people in the tourism industry, including tourists, call for the implementation of such a system. Once the taxation starts, we aim to use the funds to preserve Jeju's environment and vitalize ecological tourism." <br /><br /> The environmental tax would be set at nearly one-point-three U.S. dollars per hotel guest and four-and-a-half dollars for each rental car customer a day. <br />While those who rent electric vehicles will get a 50 percent discount on the tax,... a single tourist visiting Jeju Island will have to pay seven-point-three dollars a day on average. <br />Jeju Island plans to begin imposing the tax in 2020,... following further discussions with the central government and after enacting related legislation.<br /> However, the road to implementing such a system looks to be bumpy as it could raise the issue of fairness compared to other local tourist hotspots and the new tax would require a change to the law.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News. <br />
