Travel Bookings Canceled One After Another Due to Low-Cost Airline Concerns
Reports have emerged that the number of Korean tourists visiting Vietnam has decreased in the aftermath of the Jeju Air disaster.
On the 9th (local time), according to the local media VN Express, Than Phuc Travel Agency, which mainly serves Korean tourists in Phu Quoc, a famous tourist destination in southern Vietnam, stated that reservations have dropped by about 30% and 30% of group tours have been canceled since the disaster. A representative of the travel agency said that many Korean tourists are hesitant to use flights due to the impact of the disaster.
Tran The Hai, Sales and Marketing Director of Sailing Club Leisure Group, which operates a resort in Phu Quoc, also said, "Reservations have decreased by about 10% since the disaster," adding, "It will take time to recover to previous levels."
The Tourism Association of Khanh Hoa Province in southern Vietnam also stated, "The number of Korean tourists arriving has decreased by 30 to 40% since the disaster." It appears that Vietnamese tourist destinations are being hit as travelers cancel their trips one after another following the disaster.
Korean tourists make up the largest proportion of foreign visitors to Vietnam. According to the Vietnam General Statistics Office (GSO), among approximately 17.6 million foreign visitors to Vietnam last year, 4.57 million (26.0%) were Koreans. They were followed by Chinese visitors (about 3.74 million) and Taiwanese visitors (about 1.29 million).
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