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The N7W learning curveA trip to the Underground River, The Philippines, reflects what Jeju could offer
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¡ã Jeju is up against fierce competition in its run to be a New7Wonders of Nature and the island can learn much from the Underground River campaign of the Philippines. Photo by Steve Oberhauser

There is no doubt Jeju Island is a beautiful place. Whether it is one of the New7Wonders of Nature is a different matter.

That decision will be announced on Nov. 11.

A recent trip to another N7W candidate site, the Underground River in Sabang, outside of Puerto Princesa, in the Philippines, brought home to this writer five key ideas Jeju has to consider if it truly believes it is worthy of flocks of international travelers (outside of the Asian region) to come, experience, enjoy, and speak well of it to others.

Much money and time has been invested to talk about how great Jeju is for the designation. An equal amount of both could be invested in action to better the island’s tourism strengths regardless if the title is bestowed here or not.

First, a strong push for improving English-speaking ability in all areas of the tourism sector – from workers in the airport and hotels to major tourist destinations – is a perfectly logical point.

Second, just as Korean citizens demand government signs to be written correctly in Korean, so too will international travelers demand all signs, brochures, maps, etc., to be correctly displayed and delivered in their native language, be that English, Chinese or Japanese. Any mistakes in these seen by a native speaker of those languages automatically cheapens Jeju’s image in their eyes.

Third, what is Jeju’s brand for visiting? And, can that offer a fulfilling natural experience?

In three days, at and directly around the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, I experienced pure, raw nature. Simple beauty that is powerful and memorable. Taking a three-hour, 50-kilometer Jeepney [public transportation in the form of modified surplus US military jeeps from World War 2] ride from the nearest airport, scrunched and sitting next to a young child holding a chicken en route, staying the nights in a jungle hut with no electricity – because that’s how the native people live – was just the beginning.

On foot, from Sabang’s front door, to access the Underground River the natural way, one has to cross a leech-bearing river by small boat or wade across it chest deep to challenge the 5-plus kilometer (one-way) jungle trail. This is outlying a mangrove forest where all the following were easily spotted: rhesus monkeys, pythons, monitor lizards, hermit crabs, countless tropical birds, insects, and butterflies. The list goes on ad finitum in a few demanding hours’ hike to reach the jewel of the Underground River. Here, natives, speaking English as a second language, tell of their history while paddling in and out for at least 45 minutes to see formations unimagined, and thousands of bats. That’s just a short description of the natural wonder this site offers international travelers. Reverse the journey to get back safely before dark as a candle is used by many villagers and hut guests to see at night.

That’s nature. And, that’s people interacting with nature on a daily basis, many who are willing to teach visitors their lifestyle. More incredible experiences can be told about some of the other N7W candidate sites.

What is Jeju’s natural brand? Mt. Halla, Manjang Cave, Seongsan Sunrise Peak, beaches, and other areas are all splendidly great, but there are millions of hiking trails, probably tens of thousands of beaches and caves and thousands of other special geological features around the world. Seeing a fashion show of colors by thousands of people in “natural” Jeju surroundings may not seem natural, rather as insanity to some.

   
   
   
¡ã Whether Jeju is made a New7Wonders of Nature or not, the island should examine how its citizens commune with nature and find ways to strengthen that bond. Photos by Steve Oberhauser

Fourth, how local people interact with the environment explains a lot. On Jeju, the jobs of fishermen, female sea divers, and farmers are dwindling. School children on Jeju of all ages spend the vast majority of their time in rooms, from residence to school to hagwon to PC to singing. The adults have their own set of rooms, primarily anchored at a workplace, leading to an endless room cycle, leaving nothing to experience outside, and a disconnect between them and the environment. The continued littering, development, and pollution attest to that. Where’s the environmental education and ethics on so many levels?

Fifth and last, the continued Disney-fication of Jeju, is unnatural. The island has, all in contained areas, black bears, dolphins, crocodiles, elephants, kangaroos, even deer and horses. What tourists perceive to be natural is nothing but a sad excuse to not experience what this area has to really offer in its hidden nooks and crannies.

A title may not do anything for the island. Positive actions by its people will. Jeju can work toward being more wonderful, rather than being full of unnatural wonder, a one-and-done international tourist attraction.

¨Ï Jeju Weekly 2009 (http://www.jejuweekly.com)
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