Domestic and international travelers arriving through Jeju International Airport are heading to the parking lot, armed with masks. The photo is not directly related to the article. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong]During the Chuseok holiday, more people are planning domestic trips instead of returning to their hometowns, taking advantage of the 'contactless holiday' atmosphere. Although the health authorities' recommendation to refrain from visiting hometowns is expected to reduce the number of people traveling home, the number of people choosing travel and leisure has rather increased as the COVID-19 resurgence trend shows signs of subsiding. There is a mood of releasing the accumulated 'COVID stress' during the five-day holiday.
According to the tourism and hotel industry on the 19th, the Jeju Tourism Association forecasted that about 200,000 people will visit Jeju from the upcoming Chuseok holiday, from the 30th of this month to the 4th of next month. This means about 40,000 people arrive daily, which is similar to the summer peak season. The reservation rate for flights departing from Gimpo and Gimhae to Jeju is recorded at 80-90%.
Son Jun-gi (32, pseudonym), an office worker whose hometown is Changnyeong, Gyeongnam, will travel to Jeju for a week instead of going home this Chuseok. Following the health authorities' guidelines to refrain from visiting hometowns due to the COVID-19 resurgence and his parents' request that "you don't have to come home," he decided to take the postponed summer vacation. Son said, "Because COVID is spreading again, I am taking the delayed vacation," adding, "The COVID-19 spread is decreasing, and I will pay attention to personal hygiene."
Merchants in Jeju are glad to see tourists returning but are also concerned about the spread of COVID-19 within Jeju. Jeong Hong-tae (43), who runs a cafe near Moseulpo Port in Jeju, said, "It is welcome that tourism is increasing, but it is true that I am worried about getting infected," adding, "We plan to thoroughly implement disinfection measures inside the store and welcome customers."
With the government's easing of social distancing to level 2, psychological barriers have somewhat lowered. Citizens who refrain from visiting their hometowns and try to comply with quarantine rules to the fullest feel frustrated at the forecast of increasing travelers. Kim Jung-soo (41), an office worker living in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "I felt frustrated and gloomy staying at home, so I planned a trip during the holiday but changed my mind due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19," adding, "We should all endure a little and refrain together, but if we turn to travel, doesn't it defeat the purpose of not going home?"
Experts worry that with increased movement between regions, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is likely to rise again after Chuseok. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "The coronavirus has a strong transmission power that inevitably spreads when people gather," adding, "Recently, the daily new confirmed cases have somewhat decreased, leading to an underestimation of the virus's seriousness, but from a quarantine perspective, it is better to go to your hometown than to a resort where many unspecified people gather."
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