Travel Industry Demands Enactment of Loss Compensation Law Including Travel Sector

The Korea Travel Association is holding the "Travel Industry Survival General Rally" in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 24th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Korea Association of Travel Agents announced on the 24th that it held a "Total Rally for the Survival of the Travel Industry" in front of the main gate of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, urging the enactment of the Loss Compensation Act, which includes compensation for the travel industry.

The association stated, "The travel industry has been actively cooperating with the government's quarantine policies, including compliance with quarantine guidelines in response to the spread of COVID-19," but appealed, "Nevertheless, it is falling into the abyss of mass bankruptcies and large-scale unemployment of workers due to zero sales."

The association added, "The government provides no support, and the National Assembly has been discussing the enactment of the Loss Compensation Act for months without progress," and strongly urged, "We strongly demand compensation for the losses suffered by the travel industry due to COVID-19."

For the survival of the travel industry, the association requested four measures from the National Assembly and the government: ▲ immediate enactment of the Loss Compensation Act including compensation for travel industry damages ▲ compensation for sales losses of travel agencies affected by COVID-19 ▲ minimum livelihood support until the travel market normalizes ▲ support for the survival of the travel industry through the Tourism Promotion and Development Fund.

Oh Chang-hee, president of the Korea Association of Travel Agents, emphasized, "Now travel agency representatives are driven to the point where they have no choice but to close their businesses," and said, "Without government loss compensation support, they cannot endure any longer." President Oh further stated, "Please recognize that the 500,000 travel industry workers and their families are also citizens of the Republic of Korea and consider their livelihoods," and added, "The National Assembly and government must not ignore the desperate hope that support through the immediate enactment of the Loss Compensation Act will provide a foundation for the travel industry to rise again."