The local government of South Korea's Jeju island has enhanced its efforts to attract tourists from China.

Last year, around 28 million Chinese visited the island, which is only two hours by flight from Beijing and one hour from Shanghai. For many Chinese, Jeju is almost a weekend getaway.

"Chinese visitors love Jeju Island due to convenient flights and visa-on-arrival policy," Kim II-yong, the leader of the island’s external cooperation team, recently told reporters in Beijing.

To draw more tourists, the island will improve its public transport system, build an international airport and have facilities for cruises.

Jeju is cooperating with Chinese companies to have 100 Chinese youngsters from poorer families visit the island, Kim said. A fund to help both Chinese and Korean youngsters is also being planned, he added.

Chinese reality TV shows could shoot their programs on Jeju and show the beautiful scenery, he said.

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