Vaccination Rollout Accelerates... Travel YouTubers Resume Overseas Trips
Traveling to Various Countries Including the US, Russia, and Egypt
4 out of 10 People Enjoy 'Virtual Travel from Home'
Experts Say "Younger Generations Are More Video-Friendly, Making Experiences More Realistic"
On the 22nd, the YouTube channel 'Yeorakideul_' uploaded a video announcing travel to Saipan, where a travel bubble has been established. Photo by YouTube channel 'Yeorakideul_' video capture.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "I'm living vicariously through your videos," "Travel videos in these times... thank you!"
It has been 1 year and 8 months living with COVID-19, and as the government is considering transitioning to 'With Corona' (gradual return to daily life), some people are already enjoying their freedom by traveling abroad. These are travel YouTubers.
Since overseas travel became impossible due to the spread of COVID-19 starting January last year, YouTubers who previously posted travel content naturally shifted to domestic travel or daily vlogs.
Shin Aromi, a YouTuber famous for traveling in Southeast Asia such as Sri Lanka, has posted domestic travel videos including Jeju hotel vacations (hotel + vacation) vlogs, Suncheon trips, and living in remote villages in Gangwon Province, along with stock market reviews and delivery part-time job reviews. The channel 'Yeohaengga Jay,' with 175,000 subscribers, also uploaded 2-night 3-day hotel vacation reviews and mukbang videos in Yecheon-eup, Gyeongbuk.
Recently, as vaccinations have been actively carried out, some travel YouTubers have resumed overseas travel. 'Ppanibottle,' with 910,000 subscribers, has been posting videos of his trip to the United States since the 8th of last month. Departing from Incheon Airport, he has shared videos including a trip to the Nevada desert, a diamond field experience, and Texas-style wild boar hunting.
The channel 'Sena, Jipsuni's World Travel,' which became famous last January for a video of meeting a North Korean on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia and having a close conversation, also shared news of traveling to Egypt on the 26th of last month. In the video from the 24th, two days earlier, it showed preparations for departure including receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as well as vaccines for hepatitis A and B, tetanus, and others.
Subscribers responded in comments with "I had been saving your old videos, and finally new ones are up," "I really want to travel," and "Just watching the airport video makes me excited."
The feelings of YouTubers holding passports again after nearly two years were also special. On the 22nd, the YouTube channel 'Yeorakideul_' announced a trip to Saipan, where a travel bubble agreement was completed, saying, "Just two years ago, flying was as easy as eating, but at some point, it became like reaching for the stars. Damn COVID." In the released video, upon arriving at Incheon Airport, he said, "What is this? Is this real? It's been so long since I checked in. Am I really going abroad?" showing excitement for the long-awaited overseas trip.
On the 5th, a video was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Sena, Jipsuni's World Travel' showing a visit to the Egyptian Museum located in Cairo, Egypt. Photo by YouTube channel 'Sena, Jipsuni's World Travel' video capture.
Through their videos, they provide viewers with a vicarious satisfaction experience. According to a survey conducted on the 24th of last month by the accommodation platform 'Yogi-ottae,' among 1,115 respondents, 40.0% relieved their disappointment by 'virtual travel from home' instead of traveling due to quarantine policies. The most viewed content was videos on platforms like YouTube at 56.6%, followed by images on Instagram and others at 50.6%.
A graduate student A (female, 25), who enjoys watching travel YouTube, said, "I traveled to Europe around this time three years ago. Living on memories of past trips made me want to travel more," adding, "I have completed the second dose of the vaccine, but I am still a bit scared to go abroad, so I satisfy myself vicariously through YouTube."
On the other hand, many are not satisfied with 'virtual travel' and actually travel abroad. According to data compiled by Incheon International Airport Corporation based on ticket sales, a total of 31,545 people departed overseas during the Chuseok holiday from the 17th to the 22nd.
Experts say that just watching travel videos is effective in relieving travel desires. Professor Lee Dong-gwi of Yonsei University’s Department of Psychology explained, "People feel great happiness through travel," adding, "Especially nowadays, the younger generation is visually sensitive and media-friendly, so they can experience travel more vividly through media platforms like YouTube."
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