- Customer Safety-Centered Operational Standards Focused on Early Morning and Overnight Long-Distance Travel
- "Safety First, Two-Driver Rotation" Principle Applied to All 2026 Sunrise Tour Products
As the new year of 2026 approaches, interest is once again rising in Korea’s major sunrise destinations, including Boriam in Namhae, Homigot in Pohang, Hyangiram in Yeosu, Ganjeolgot in Ulsan, Jeongdongjin in Gangneung, Naksansa in Yangyang, and Haedong Yonggungsa in Busan. With demand for sunrise trips peaking around the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, not only the choice of sunrise spots but also safety during long-distance travel in the early morning hours is becoming a key consideration.
Sunrise trips typically involve departing late at night the previous day, traveling long distances during the night and early morning, watching the sunrise, and then returning home. In many cases, additional sightseeing is scheduled after the sunrise, making it difficult to secure sufficient rest for drivers during the trip. In particular, on the night of December 31 and January 1, heavy traffic and the use of car heaters in winter combine to increase the risk of drowsy driving and reduced concentration, making travel safety concerns greater than usual. Given these circumstances, there have been ongoing concerns within and outside the industry that it is difficult to maintain a stable travel environment with a single-driver system for such itineraries.
Against this backdrop, Honored Tour, a premium domestic travel brand launched in 2024, announced that it has introduced a two-driver rotation system for all sunrise products for 2026, the first in the industry to do so. The company explained that this is not just a matter of service differentiation, but rather an operational standard that prioritizes safety, taking into account the structural characteristics of sunrise trips.
Honored Tour’s two-driver rotation system distributes continuous driving hours through driver changes during the journey and institutionally guarantees drivers’ rest and condition management. The company believes that for itineraries where long-distance and nighttime driving is unavoidable, it is important to adopt operational methods that proactively reduce the risk of accidents. Rather than treating legal standards for driving and rest as mere minimum requirements, Honored Tour applies these standards comprehensively throughout its travel operations.
In addition, Honored Tour is also designing its operations to suit the unique characteristics of sunrise trips. Considering the congestion near sunrise destinations, the company includes breakfast and lunch in its itineraries as a basic feature. To address hygiene inconveniences, drops in body temperature, and condition management issues that can arise during overnight trips, Honored Tour provides a dedicated convenience kit containing a toothbrush and toothpaste set, heated eye mask, hotel-style slippers, energy bar, and hot pack. All products are operated with 28-seat limousine buses, offering wide and comfortable seating even during long-distance travel.
Junpyo Jang, CEO of Honored Tour, stated, "The quality of travel services ultimately begins with safety. For products with heavy travel burdens, such as overnight itineraries, we believe that any factor that could pose even the slightest threat to customer safety must be eliminated in advance. That is why we operate a two-driver rotation system, even if it increases costs." He added, "When choosing a trip, it is necessary to consider not only the price and itinerary but also the travel environment and safety management system."
Meanwhile, Honored Tour is a premium domestic travel brand that aims to create travel experiences together with customers, focusing on active senior customers in their 50s and 60s. The company offers carefully selected seasonal destinations and dedicated travel concierge services. According to the company, over 450 customers have already signed up for the 2026 sunrise products, despite their higher price compared to competitors, indicating that demand for safe early-morning travel is translating into actual bookings.
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