Taking Photos of Donghae and In-Flight Meal in Jeju... Enjoying a 'Sightseeing Flight' at 10,000m Altitude

Virtual Overseas Travel Circling Destination Airspace Without Plane Landing
Popular Alternative Tourism Product in the COVID-19 Era

Taiwanese tourists participated in the "Jeju Virtual Departure Early Bird Promotion," where they departed from Taipei Airport on the 19th, circled over Jeju airspace without landing at Jeju Airport, and then returned to Taiwan. They are taking commemorative photos inside the plane.
[Photo by Korea Tourism Organization]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Recently in Taiwan, 120 tourists participated in a Korean travel experience where the plane circled over Jeju Island without disembarking and then returned to Taiwan. This is the so-called 'Jeju Virtual Departure Early Bird Promotion' product. Before boarding the plane at Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan, passengers wore hanbok and took commemorative photos, and experienced Korean cultural programs on board such as traditional folk games and learning Jeju dialect. They also enjoyed in-flight meals of 'Chimaek (chicken + beer)' and 'Chicol (chicken + cola)'. When the plane arrived over Jeju Island and circled the island at an altitude of 10,000 meters, passengers enjoyed the travel atmosphere by capturing the Jeju scenery outside the window with their phone cameras.

This product was jointly launched by the Korea Tourism Organization Taipei Office, Taiwanese mid-to-large travel agency EasyFly, and airline Tigerair. In the situation where overseas travel has been cut off due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), 'sightseeing flights' that allow travelers to experience departure and in-flight activities without landing at the destination are gaining attention as an alternative.

On the 30th, a tourism organization official said, "We limited reservations to 120 people to gauge interest, but the product sold out faster than expected, showing a significant thirst for overseas travel." This product, released at noon on the 11th, sold out in 4 minutes. Jin Jong-hwa, head of the China team at the Korea Tourism Organization, added, "Although the Korean inbound tourism market is depressed and facing difficult times due to COVID-19, we want to prepare this as a time to seek a new beginning."

Photo by Korea Tourism Organization

Quenching the Thirst for Overseas Travel Demand and Providing Some Relief to the Aviation and Travel Industries Facing Crisis

Such sightseeing flight products have established themselves as a new travel trend in the COVID-19 era in Taiwan, Japan, and other countries. Through in-flight experiences and circling over the destination, they can increase satisfaction for those wishing to travel abroad and help attract tourists once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. This is also positive from the perspective of the aviation and travel industries, which have been stagnant due to COVID-19, as it offers a breakthrough opportunity.

South Korea is also following this trend. Products that allow people to feel the travel atmosphere by flying over domestic airspace have appeared and are receiving good responses from domestic travelers. A representative example is Hana Tour’s recently launched first domestic virtual overseas travel product, 'Skyline Travel.' This product involves boarding the Asiana Airlines A380 aircraft, known as a sky luxury hotel, departing from Incheon Airport in late next month, flying for about two hours over Gangneung, Pohang, Gimhae, and Jeju, and then returning to Incheon Airport. Although it does not go overseas, it attracted attention because it allows travelers to feel the atmosphere of overseas travel.

The product went on sale on the 25th, and out of 320 seats, 284 seats excluding emergency patient seats sold out on the same day. Products were also released that included only airline tickets or packages with accommodations at Paradise City and Nest Hotel located in Yeongjongdo. According to Hana Tour, the business class + accommodation package sold out in one minute, and waiting reservations reached four times the number of available seats.

A Hana Tour official said, "Through Skyline Travel, we confirmed the high interest of travelers who could not travel overseas due to COVID-19," and added, "We will introduce more diverse and differentiated domestic travel products to help travelers relieve their thirst for overseas travel."