<Anchor> This is a
friendly economic time. Today (1st) I will be with reporter Kim Hye-min. The road to overseas travel without the burden of self-quarantine is now open.
<Reporter> Although
it is a bit dangerous because the delta mutant virus has spread, the government held a travel bubble agreement signing ceremony with Saipan, an American territory, as scheduled yesterday.
The travel bubble is also called a 'travel safety zone', which means that two countries with good quarantine management are exempted from self-quarantine and allowed to travel.
Here, the word “bubble” means making an agreement as if wrapped in a soap bubble and traveling freely only within it.
On the 6th, the government announced a plan to promote the travel bubble. After that, it is the first agreement signed with a country that trusts in quarantine.
<Anchor>
Now, can I travel directly to Saipan, or can you explain how to get there?
<Reporter>
I can't go right now. Recruiting at a tourist agency is possible at any time after the agreement is signed, but considering the preparation process, it is the summer vacation period from the end of July to the beginning of August. At this time, it seems that you can travel to Saipan.
If you look closely at the contents of the agreement between the two countries, first of all, you can travel to nationals of both countries and even foreign families. However, I cannot go on a private tour. Only group travel through travel agencies is permitted.
In addition, 14 days must pass after completing the vaccination against COVID-19 approved by the national health authorities. The approved vaccines are Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and AstraZeneca, both countries are the same.
You will also need to bring your vaccination certificate, which will be checked at the airport when you enter Saipan. Lastly, we conduct a COVID-19 test within 72 hours before departure to Saipan. You must also have a copy of the confirmation of receipt of the voice and submit it together.
<Anchor>
So, 14 days have passed after getting the vaccine, and after that, individual tours are not allowed, only group tours are possible. I can sort this out. Then we went on a group tour. Can I travel as soon as I arrive in Saipan?
<Reporter>
It's not like that. Upon arrival, you will be tested for COVID-19 again on the same day. And if you wait in a designated hotel room and hear voice confirmation, you can start traveling in earnest from that point on.
In addition, travelers must move under the guidance of staff according to the travel agency's set schedule. Except for free activities within the resort, the rest of the movement is managed by the travel agency.
It is said that only staff who have been vaccinated will be assigned to the hotel. You could test positive while traveling. In that case, they are immediately isolated and treated at a dedicated treatment facility.
All medical expenses are covered free of charge. Three days before returning home, I will be tested for COVID-19 again. If you test negative after another PCR test after returning home, you will be exempted from quarantine.
<Anchor>
Then, reporter Kim talked about this at the beginning when he delivered this news, but recently, the number of confirmed cases is increasing in Korea too, and the delta mutation is particularly dangerous. In this situation, it is a bit hasty to promote the travel bubble like this. There is also talk of this.
<Reporter>
That's right. These concerns are now evident. Regarding this, the government explained, "I think that concerns about quarantine are low if travelers follow quarantine rules well."
In addition, Saipan has a much higher number of vaccinated people than Korea, with 63% of the total.
If, after this agreement, the number of confirmed cases increases in one country or the quarantine situation worsens due to the occurrence of a mutated virus, the start date may be delayed according to the agreement between the two countries.
In addition, even after implementation, if the quarantine situation worsens, the 'circuit breaker' system that can temporarily suspend the travel bubble was also included in the agreement.
However, it is not yet known how effective the travel bubble with Saipan will be. Because Saipan is a popular destination for families and young couples, most of the children and young women are not vaccinated.
Also, in the case of AstraZeneca, it takes quite a while to get the second dose, so you may not be able to travel this summer.
So, it may not be easy for the number of Saipan travelers to increase sharply during this summer vacation. Such predictions are also emerging.