Jeju Island, South Korea, will issue a digital travel card integrated with NFT in the second half of 2025 to attract young travelers and reposition itself as a technology destination.
Jeju Island is preparing to launch a digital travel card integrated with NFT technology in the second half of 2025, a strategic move aimed at attracting young travelers from the Millennial and Gen Z generations while repositioning itself as a high-tech tourist destination.
This digital travel card project will apply blockchain and NFT technology to provide special offers such as discounts on sightseeing tickets and subsidies for tourism services, in order to enhance interaction and attract young travelers. This is not only a promotional tool for tourism but also a way for Jeju to build its image as an innovation center in the industry.
As the first autonomous province of South Korea, Jeju has previously experimented with blockchain solutions, such as the COVID-19 tracing system in 2021, demonstrating its commitment to applying technology in daily life.
In March 2024, the Jeju government held in-depth discussions on the role of blockchain and NFT in local economic development, especially in the tourism sector. The idea of using NFTs in museums, restaurants, and even the fishing industry was proposed as part of an effort to enrich the travel experience. This initiative not only helps boost the economy but also creates differentiation for Jeju Island amid the increasingly competitive landscape of international tourism.
The cryptocurrency market context in South Korea also provides significant momentum for this plan. As of November 2024, the number of cryptocurrency users in South Korea has increased by 610,000, reaching 15.6 million – equivalent to 30% of the population. Global NFT sales in 2024 reached $8.83 billion, although still lower than the peak of $23.7 billion in 2022, they are showing signs of recovery.