South Korea’s Jeju Island Issues Multilingual Notices To Promote Respectful Tourism

Tourists around the world face growing criticism for damaging cultural sites and disrupting local life. Examples include a couple breaking a Swarovski chair in Verona and a visitor defacing a painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. In Italy, a woman carved her initials into the Leaning Tower of Pisa. To combat overtourism’s harmful effects—like environmental damage and strained infrastructure—countries are enforcing stricter rules such as fines and visitor limits. These measures protect heritage and communities while encouraging responsible travel. Now, South Korea’s Jjeu Island is trying a new approach to remind visitors to behave respectfully.