'Special Travel Advisory' Maintained for 26 Countries Including China and Russia
Overseas Airfare Surges Ninefold
On the afternoon of the 11th, departing passengers waiting in line for boarding procedures at the departure hall of Terminal 1, Incheon International Airport, are preparing to board their flights. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The government has decided to lift the special travel advisory for all countries and regions after more than two years since the spread of COVID-19.
On the 13th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "Considering the government's quarantine policy direction and the global COVID-19 trends, the special travel advisory will be lifted, and from the 14th, the existing travel alert system for each country will be reinstated."
Accordingly, 22 countries including Singapore, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands, as well as the regions of Guam and Saipan, will be downgraded to Travel Alert Level 1, while 129 countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France will be downgraded to Travel Alert Level 2.
The special travel advisory will remain in place for 26 countries including China and Russia, and countries and regions currently under Travel Alert Level 3 (departure recommendation) and Level 4 (travel ban) will maintain their current status.
Previously, the government first issued the special travel advisory on March 23, 2020, and has extended it monthly since then.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that before implementing this measure, it comprehensively considered COVID-19 trends (including vaccination rates), ▲ mutual recognition of vaccination certificates ▲ progress in travel safe zone (travel bubble) negotiations ▲ restrictions on short-term foreign visitors' entry.
Meanwhile, according to Gmarket and Auction on the same day (13th), analyzing big data on overseas travel products over the recent month (March 11 to April 10) right after the news of quarantine exemption for vaccinated overseas arrivals, overseas flight ticket sales surged more than ninefold (876%), and local tour product sales also increased more than eightfold (781%). In comparison, domestic flight ticket sales increased by only 3%.
Regarding overseas travel destinations, demand was higher for distant countries rather than nearby ones like Japan and Vietnam. Analyzing the ranking of flight ticket sales, long-distance travel destinations with flight times over six hours such as Phnom Penh, Cambodia (6 hours), Los Angeles (LA), USA (11 hours), and Hawaii, USA (8 hours) ranked first to third.
Other popular travel destinations included Bangkok, Thailand (5th, 6 hours), Vancouver, Canada (6th, 10 hours), and Toronto, Canada (9th, 13 hours).
The proportion of flight ticket buyers who were male customers was 43% in 2019, but this year, for the first time, women customers surpassed men, accounting for over half (51%). Additionally, the proportion of customers aged 50 and above increased to 32%, up from 24% three years ago.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
