As Malaysia prohibited the Yemenis from staying longer, they moved to Jeju Island through the region's visa-free program.[14] Jeju's visa-waiver program was introduced on May 1, 2002 as a part of Special Act on the Development of Jeju International Cosmopolitan City (Korean: 제주특별자치도 설치 및 국제자유도시 조성을 위한 특별법) for the purpose of encouraging more tourists into the island.