'Honeymoon to Jeju Island' Package Popularity... Residents Feel Uneasy

Sharp Increase in Jeju Honeymoon Trips Due to Overseas Travel Restrictions
Jeju Hotel Launches Honeymoon Package
Experts Advise "Pay Attention to Personal Hygiene and Quarantine"

/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is not yet over, some travel agencies have created honeymoon package tours to Jeju, raising concerns among local residents. There are concerns that the spread of infection could increase proportionally if many people, such as newlyweds, gather. Experts advise that an environment where personal hygiene and quarantine safety rules can be followed must be established.

Last month, a hotel located in Jeju City launched a honeymoon package tour specializing in honeymooners. The package includes room use, room service, rental car service, swimming pool, and sports center admission tickets.

The hotel’s package has become very popular among domestic newlyweds, with reservations for April reportedly more than doubling compared to the previous month. The hotel announced that it would extend the package operation until June, two months longer than originally planned, to meet demand.

In addition, as demand for honeymoon trips to Jeju Island increases, other hotels in Jeju City are also consecutively launching and promoting package products for domestic newlyweds.

However, some voices express concerns about package products that could cause crowds of travelers at a time when it is too early to feel safe from the COVID-19 situation. There is anxiety that if many people gather in Jeju, the infection situation could worsen.

A netizen who identified as a Jeju resident said, "Compared to other cities, Jeju has fewer confirmed COVID-19 cases, but it is equally worrisome as tourists keep coming," adding, "Some tourists still do not wear masks and do not follow etiquette, so it is true that the spread of infectious diseases due to the increase in tourists is concerning."

Seogwipo City is shredding canola flowers along Noksan Road in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju, on the morning of the 8th.
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, controversy arose when a mother and daughter who returned from studying in the United States showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms but proceeded with a 4-night, 5-day trip to Jeju. As a result, about 20 businesses in Jeju City were temporarily closed, and 96 local residents entered self-quarantine.

Despite this situation, as the weather improved and tourists flocked to Jeju Island, on the 8th, Jeju authorities took the drastic measure of destroying canola flower fields near Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo City. Although tourism is a major industry in Jeju, it is known that local residents requested the removal to prevent the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Consequently, concerns about honeymoon package tours promoting Jeju tourism are growing. Experts advise that rather than a complete ban on travel, an environment where personal hygiene and quarantine safety rules can be followed should be created.

Professor Kim Wooju, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Daegu Hospital, said, "Having no tourists at all is not good for the local economy, and it is impossible to completely block tourists," adding, "However, since it is still not safe to be assured of preventing infectious disease transmission, tourism products should be designed to minimize exposure to the outside and prevent infection as much as possible."

He continued, "Hotels should also pay attention to hygiene and quarantine management and take measures such as guiding travelers on safety rules."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.