Newlyweds Exhausted by COVID-19
Turn to Jeju After Overseas Honeymoon Plans Blocked
Hotel Honeymoon Package Reservations Double Compared to Previous Month
Some Point to Need for Self-Restraint Following 'Jeju International Student Mother-Daughter COVID-19 Case'
As the COVID-19 pandemic has entered a prolonged phase, more newlyweds are giving up overseas travel and choosing Jeju Island for their honeymoon trips. In response, luxury hotels are offering honeymoon-exclusive package deals. Photo by Phoenix Jeju Seopjikoji
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] "Originally, we planned to go to Cancun, Mexico via New York. But we thought it would only make us uncomfortable, so my fianc? and I decided to postpone our overseas trip until next year and go on our honeymoon to Jeju Island first." Bride-to-be Kim Eun-ha (pseudonym), who is getting married in April, has endured a nightmare over the past two months. The wedding preparations, which should have been joyful, were ruined by the COVID-19 pandemic. She suffered severe mental and physical exhaustion due to intense conflicts with the wedding hall over the reduction of guaranteed guests. Overseas honeymoons also became impossible as international flights were blocked. The only remaining hope is the alternative trip to Jeju Island.
As the COVID-19 crisis enters a prolonged phase, more newlyweds are hastily turning to Jeju Island. This is because many couples, unable to cancel or postpone their weddings, are reluctantly holding semi-forced 'small weddings.' With local 4- to 5-star hotels offering honeymoon packages exclusively for newlyweds to alleviate their gloom, the demand for travel to Jeju is expected to recover rapidly.
◆ Newlyweds heading to Jeju Island = According to the industry on the 3rd, Jeju Shilla Hotel’s 'Suite Honeymoon' package, launched on the 10th of last month, showed strong sales in March. Confirmed reservations for April are more than double those of March. Due to the positive response to the package offered only in March and April, there is cautious speculation that the sales period may be extended. Lotte Hotel Jeju, noting a roughly 35% increase in honeymoon package inquiries compared to February, plans to launch a dedicated package product and sell it until the end of June.
Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju’s 'Romantic Honeymoon Package,' which debuted on the 1st, secured 10 reservations through word of mouth alone without special promotions. Ramada Plaza Jeju’s all-inclusive 'Honeymoon Package' was designed in response to increased customer inquiries. Thanks to the hotel’s geographical advantage of being close to the airport, there is high demand for stays on the first or last day of the trip. Phoenix Jeju Seopjikoji’s 'Romantic Honeymoon' package and Maison Glad Jeju’s 'Honeymoon Class' package are also available. Since honeymoon trips typically last five days or more, combining stays at two different hotels is popular.
Demand for outdoor snap photography is also recovering to normal levels. Wedding and couple snap photographer Lee Yoo-chul (pseudonym) said, "There were about 100 shoots in February and March, of which 4 were canceled and 20% postponed to June or later. However, this month and May are almost back to last year’s levels." A large car rental company’s consultation staff also said, "Recently, inquiries from newlyweds and other Jeju travelers have increased, rapidly recovering the number of customers," adding, "On weekends, we cannot guarantee the availability of the desired vehicles."
◆ Health management is essential to avoid being a 'nuisance' = Some point out that, as Jeju residents’ anxiety about selfish tourists’ deviant behavior grows, travelers should pay close attention to health management. This follows the so-called 'Jeju American student mother and daughter case,' where a mother and daughter who traveled to Jeju despite suspected COVID-19 symptoms tested positive. Hotels mentioned in the case saw their room occupancy rates, which had rebounded in March, decline again after the incident. More people are hesitating about traveling to Jeju. Bride-to-be Kim Da-eun (pseudonym), who has a wedding scheduled for early April, said, "After canceling our European honeymoon due to COVID-19, we are looking into Jeju, but I worry about being a nuisance," and tearfully added, "No one welcomes us, so I just want to cancel the wedding." Another bride-to-be, Han Ji-hee (pseudonym), sighed, "I have already booked a honeymoon to Jeju, but I’m worried because the way tourists are viewed doesn’t seem very positive."
A representative of Jeju A Hotel said, "Just rumors that a confirmed case visited the hotel cause serious damage, so the backlash and fear among Jeju residents regarding the 'Jeju mother and daughter case' are quite high," adding, "Even amid the COVID-19 crisis, customers need to pay more attention to health management to create good memories."
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