Jeju Island, a popular tourist destination in South Korea, is set to introduce a new tourism project in 2025 that will utilize Non-Fungible Token (NFT) technology to offer tourists a range of benefits, including travel subsidies, discounts, and membership privileges.
The project, which was reported on by local media, will see Korean tourists begin receiving a "digital tourism resident card" this year, with benefits including travel subsidies. The cards will be linked to NFTs, which are unique digital assets that are stored on a blockchain, making them secure from hacking. Transactions on the blockchain are recorded and cannot be altered, while NFTs also serve to prove ownership of digital content.
Visitors will also be able to use the digital tourism card to record their trips, allowing them to save details like photos, videos, and the time spent at each location, essentially creating a personalized digital record of their visit to Jeju Island.
The project is specifically targeting younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Z, who are more accustomed to digital experiences, in the hopes that the use of NFTs will attract more young tourists and encourage them to return for multiple visits. Tourists will also be able to use the digital card to receive travel subsidies, which will be provided in the local cryptocurrency, Tamna Jeon, encouraging tourists to spend money in the region and boosting the local economy.
In addition to the travel subsidies, the digital card will also provide discounts at local attractions, making Jeju even more appealing to tourists. The digital tourism resident card will be tested later this year and will continue through the second half of 2025 before being fully launched. If the project is successful, it could pave the way for similar initiatives at other tourist destinations, with Jeju aiming to set a standard for a modern tourist destination by utilizing NFTs and blockchain to create a secure, unique, and rewarding experience for visitors.
