Vaccine Tourism Travel Packages Launched in the US, Maldives, Europe, etc.
Free Vaccination Offered to Tourists Entering and Leaving the Country
An airplane taking off. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the spread of COVID-19 has reached a pandemic level, causing stagnation in the tourism industry, attempts to attract tourists using vaccines are being made in various countries around the world. This is an effort to attract tourists through so-called 'vaccine tourism' travel packages.
According to European media 'Euronews' on the 17th (local time), some travel agencies in Europe have already launched vaccine tourism packages.
According to the media, Norwegian travel agency 'World Visitor' has released three package products that include receiving COVID-19 vaccines in Russia. The agency promotes that various types of vaccines such as Pfizer, Moderna, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca can be administered.
Among these, a 2,999 euro (approximately 4 million KRW) package involves staying for 22 days at a so-called 'health resort' located in Russia, where tourists receive one vaccine dose each on the first and last day of the trip.
There are also countries that support vaccine tourism at the government level. According to the US 'CNBC' broadcast on the 14th, Abdulla Mausoom, Maldives Minister of Tourism, announced plans to provide vaccines to foreign tourists soon as a measure to revitalize tourism in the country.
The Maldives currently allows entry only to tourists who submit negative COVID-19 test results. However, the Maldives health authorities plan to allow unlimited entry without testing for tourists who have received the vaccines they recommend.
Some US states are also reportedly considering vaccine administration plans targeting domestic residents.
The Alaska state government plans to start vaccinating tourists coming from other states within the US from June 1. Tourists arriving or departing through four airports in Alaska?Anchorage, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Fairbanks?can receive vaccines free of charge.
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