Is Social Distancing Possible During Travel? ... Golden Holiday Puts Daily Quarantine to the Test

Seoul Yeouido Hangang Park is bustling with visitors./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Starting from Buddha’s Birthday on the 30th until Children’s Day on May 5th, the longest holiday period of up to six days begins. This marks the longest holiday period since the first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was reported domestically on January 20, excluding traditional holidays. Domestic travel demand, which had been subdued for a while due to the spread of COVID-19 and the implementation of social distancing, has revived as a result. While the risk of infectious diseases has not been completely eliminated, concerns over a large-scale outbreak of confirmed cases have increased, prompting the government and quarantine authorities to closely monitor the trend during and after this holiday period. The effectiveness of the 'everyday quarantine system,' proposed with the easing of social distancing in mind, is also entering a full-scale test phase.

◆ Accommodation Fully Booked, Popular Tourist Spots Buzzing= According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and local governments, about 180,000 tourists are expected to flock to Jeju Island, a popular domestic travel destination, during this holiday period. Sokcho and Gangneung, representative tourist spots in Gangwon Province, are expected to see visitor numbers reaching 90% of last year’s level, with accommodation reservation rates hitting 97% during the holiday period. Hotels, pensions, and other lodging facilities in these areas have already been fully booked.

According to global leisure platform company Yanolja, accommodation reservation rates by region during this period were Gangwon Province (22%), Gyeonggi Province (12%), Jeollanam-do (11%), Gyeongsangnam-do (9%), and Jeju Island (8%). Compared to the same period last year, when about 40% of all reservations were concentrated in the metropolitan area including Seoul (21%) and Gyeonggi Province (18%), travel demand has been dispersed to other regions.

Accordingly, local governments are strengthening quarantine systems to prepare for the surge in travelers. At Jeju Airport, starting from this day, the fever detection threshold has been lowered from the previous 37.5°C to 37.3°C, and diagnostic tests will be conducted not only for overseas arrivals but also for those with fever symptoms at the walk-through screening clinic inside the airport. Indoor tourist sites in Jeju will be equipped with fever check devices and thermometers, and visitors without masks will be restricted from entering indoor tourist sites. Additionally, when renting a car, travelers are required to sign a pledge to comply with quarantine guidelines.

Gangwon Province has installed thermal imaging cameras at rest areas, bus terminals, and train stations and is conducting disinfection. Information desks have been set up at major tourist spots to check visitors’ temperatures and report any symptomatic individuals to the local health center. Basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining a distance of at least 2 meters will be promoted, and pathways will be marked to help visitors maintain distance from each other.

◆ Contactless Ordering, Room Service…Detailed Guidelines by Travel Route= The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization have prepared detailed behavioral guidelines by travel route?including transportation, outdoor tourist sites, restaurants, shopping, and accommodations?to encourage adherence to social distancing as much as possible during trips. Private car users are advised to sanitize their hands before boarding, ventilate frequently during travel, and park in places with ample space whenever possible.

When using public transportation, travelers are encouraged to book tickets online or use automatic ticket machines and reserve seats that are spaced apart from others. At highway rest areas, it is advised to use unmanned machines or dedicated applications for ordering and payment, and to select dining seats with at least an arm’s length distance from others.

At outdoor tourist sites, maintaining an arm’s length distance is emphasized, and the use of shared rental items is discouraged. In restaurants or cafes, visitors are urged to avoid crowded peak hours, use outdoor tables, or opt for takeout. In shopping malls, crowded areas should be avoided, indoor stays minimized, and online or electronic payment methods used whenever possible.

At accommodations such as hotels and condos, guests are advised to wash their hands after touching internal facilities, use room service instead of dining in restaurants, and use personal items such as towels and robes. At campsites, maintaining distance from other tents and ventilating indoor spaces frequently is recommended. Wearing masks is mandatory when using shared facilities. Business operators should ensure the provision and management of related supplies so that travelers can comply with these behavioral guidelines.

Kim Kang-rip, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "There may still be community infections that we have not identified, which could potentially lead to large-scale outbreaks. Even if external activities are unavoidable, please familiarize yourself with personal hygiene and safe travel guidelines for COVID-19 prevention in advance and strictly adhere to them on site."

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