Starting July, 'Travel Bubble' Activated... Only Overseas Group Travel Allowed for Fully Vaccinated Individuals (Update)

Use Direct Flights Operated by National and Counterpart Airlines

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Starting as early as July, individuals who have completed COVID-19 vaccination will be allowed to participate in group overseas travel to quarantine-trusted countries.

At the regular briefing on the 9th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plan to promote travel safety zones (travel bubbles) for group travel to quarantine-trusted countries as a limited exchange recovery measure during the transitional period before herd immunity is formed, in connection with increasing domestic vaccination rates."

A travel bubble is the resumption of international travel for general purposes by exempting quarantine between countries that have established mutual trust in quarantine management. However, overseas travelers must submit a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test certificate and vaccination proof, and quarantine exemption is granted only if a negative COVID-19 test result is confirmed upon arrival.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters evaluated, "This measure is the first step toward recovering international tourism and the aviation market by alleviating public inconvenience caused by prolonged overseas travel restrictions and difficulties faced by the tourism and aviation industries."

The travel bubble will be implemented after agreeing on travel safety zones through consultations with quarantine-trusted countries, followed by final discussions with quarantine authorities on detailed operational plans considering the quarantine situation.

Initially, only group travel for individuals who have completed COVID-19 vaccination will be allowed, and the number of flights and the scale of entry will be limited to a certain level through agreements with the counterpart countries.

Additionally, travelers must use direct flights operated by airlines from both South Korea and the counterpart countries.

Furthermore, travel agencies operating group tours will be required to designate quarantine managers who will regularly monitor and report on tourists’ compliance with quarantine guidelines, provide education, measure body temperature, and check for symptom occurrence.

So far, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport have explored the possibility of promoting travel bubbles with quarantine-trusted countries and regions such as Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Guam, and Saipan to alleviate public inconvenience caused by international travel restrictions after the spread of COVID-19 and to recover the international tourism and aviation markets.

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