"4,000 Confirmed Cases..." Is Overseas Travel Flooded by 'Retaliation Trips' Really Okay?

Surge in Overseas Travel After With Corona...Last Month, Departures from 4 Major Vacation Spots Up 55%
30% of Koreans "Want to Travel Abroad Within a Year"
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Extends 'Special Travel Advisory'...Recommends 'Travel Restraint' Until December

On the 4th of last month, an airplane is taking off from the runway at Incheon International Airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Since the phased return to normal life (With Corona) was fully implemented this month, the number of people traveling abroad has surged, providing relief to the long-suppressed travel industry while raising concerns about the acceleration of COVID-19 spread, including breakthrough infections.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation Information Portal, the number of travelers departing from Incheon International Airport to Saipan last month was 2,086, a 131% increase compared to September (904). The total number of departures to the so-called 'four major resorts'?Saipan, Guam, Singapore, and Hawaii?last month was 8,703, a 55% increase compared to September (5,600).

A European business travel package from one travel agency received over 10,000 bookings within an hour, and another agency's Maldives flight tickets sold out 300 tickets within 57 seconds during a live broadcast.

The desire of domestic travelers to travel abroad has proven explosive. According to the "Comprehensive Analysis Report on Consumers' Intentions for Overseas Travel" published by Visa Korea on the 17th, 4 out of 10 consumers in the Asia-Pacific region responded that they intend to travel abroad within 12 months.

In Korea, the figures have shown an upward trend, recording 27% in November 2020, 26% in February 2021, 35% in June 2021, and 32% in September 2021. This means that 3 out of 10 Koreans intend to travel abroad within a year.

The trend of domestic confirmed cases and overseas travel advisories show a different pattern from this enthusiasm. As of the 24th, the number of new domestic confirmed cases reached 4,116. Daily new cases have exceeded 3,000 for consecutive days and surpassed 4,000 on this day, with severe cases also reaching 586.

Given this situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended the special travel advisory for all countries and regions for Korean nationals until December 13. The special travel advisory is issued for urgent short-term overseas travel risks and corresponds to measures between 'travel restraint' and 'recommendation to evacuate' (level 3). The government has continuously extended this advisory since it was first issued on March 23 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged people to cancel or postpone overseas travel if possible during the advisory period and, if staying abroad, to strictly adhere to hygiene rules, avoid participation in large events and going out or moving around, and minimize contact with others to ensure personal safety.

Recently, with the spread of the Delta variant reducing vaccine effectiveness and breakthrough infection cases increasing over time after vaccination, concerns have arisen that the risk of breakthrough infections may be amplified during overseas travel. In fact, one netizen revealed, "I tested positive for COVID-19 during my honeymoon in the Maldives," adding, "I am on the third day of quarantine and it is very difficult."

Experts predict that unless a new form of variant virus emerges, the surge in overseas travel will not cause serious harm to domestic COVID-19 spread.

Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, explained, "I expect that the increasing trend of overseas travel will not have a serious impact on Korea," adding, "PCR tests are properly conducted upon entry, and since the Delta variant is already widespread domestically, it will not become a new catalyst for a massive outbreak." He further stated, "Assuming no new variant virus emerges overseas, efforts should rather focus on preventing domestic transmission than on overseas importation."