Mr. Oh, a 30-year-old office worker, decided to go on a trip to New York again last year, which he had given up on due to the Corona crisis.
Before the first summer vacation, when social distancing was lifted, I bought my plane ticket to New York early and even made a hotel reservation.
However, ahead of his long-awaited departure date, he is contemplating more than a dozen times a day whether or not to cancel him.
This is because the cost burden has increased as the spread of the coronavirus has intensified and the won-dollar exchange rate has risen.
Recently, as the corona virus shows signs of spreading again, people who are planning to travel abroad for summer vacation are deeply concerned.
Hundreds of articles per day worrying about canceling overseas travel are pouring in on travel-related online communities.
As the coronavirus outbreak has become a global trend, there are concerns among travelers that quarantine measures for inbound travelers may be revived without notice, just like the Omicron epidemic at the end of last year.
In addition to the skyrocketing air ticket prices, even the exchange rate jumped to the level of the foreign exchange crisis.
After three years, each country's locks have been lifted, but the situation is not so good.
Unusual corona virus cases
Office worker Hanmo planned a family trip to Guam, the United States, in early August to coincide with the school vacation period.
He even bought a flight ticket, but after a few days of deliberation, he paid a fee of 90,000 won and canceled it.
Han said, "I had high expectations for an overseas trip after a long time, but I recently decided to cancel it and go on a domestic tour due to concerns about a re-emergence of the corona virus."
“At the beginning of this year, there were a lot of people around who wanted to go abroad unconditionally for this summer vacation, but it seems to have been canceled recently,” said Han.
The increase in the number of coronavirus cases is staggering.
As of 00:00 on the 22nd, the number of new corona patients was 68,632.
As of the release date, from the 19th to the previous day, the number shrank from 70,000 to 60,000 for three days in a row, but nearly 70,000.
Due to the re-infestation, the number of severe cases and deaths is also on the rise.
A week ago, on the 15th, 38,865 people were about 1.77 times, and two weeks ago, on the 8th, 19,302 people, about 3.56 times.
Among the new confirmed cases, 323 cases were imported from abroad, recording more than 300 for the fifth day since the 18th.
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Quarantine experts believe that July will be a crossroads for the re-spreading of the corona virus.
It is a time when the effectiveness of vaccination begins to decline, and the immunity acquired by mass confirmed cases after peaking in March is also decreasing.
The outlook is bleak as it is predicted that the sub-mutated virus of Omicron, which has stronger transmission and is less susceptible to vaccines than before, will become the dominant species.
As the number of overseas trips increased during the first summer vacation without social distancing, the possibility of an influx of other mutations from foreign countries also increased.
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The problem is that re-invasion due to mutations such as BA.5 is a global trend.
According to the international statistics site Our World in Data, as of the 21st, the weekly average number of confirmed cases in France, Germany, and Italy was 1,404, 1146, and 1398 per million people, respectively, and 1,398 in Korea, and 1,095 in Korea.
At the beginning of last month, there were 200-400 people, but the number is increasing rapidly.
Currently, most European and North American countries do not require inspection and quarantine before and after entry, and all arrivals in Korea have been exempted from quarantine since June 8.
According to the quarantine and medical response plan in preparation for a re-epidemic outbreak announced by the government on the 13th, the PCR test before entering the country is recognized within 48 hours and the rapid antigen test for experts within 24 hours.
However, as the detection rate of BA.5 mutations imported from abroad reaches 70%, if the epidemic continues to spread, it plans to review measures to limit it to PCR testing.
As for when to allow only PCR testing before entry, the government said, "Currently, we are not specifying the timing."
"We are not considering whether to self-quarantine or ban entry for inbound travelers at this time unless there is a situation of great concern," he explained.
Leaving after 3 years... Overseas travel 'surge'
In order to move toward a 'post-coronavirus' this year, countries around the world are gradually easing quarantine measures, such as abolishing the mandatory submission of PCR negative certificates when overseas travelers enter the country.
In addition, the demand for travel, which had been suppressed for two years, exploded.
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According to the aviation information portal system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of international and domestic passengers last month totaled 4,607,105.
In particular, the number of international passengers jumped 35.8% from 941,540 to 1,27,029.
This is the first time that the number of international passengers exceeded 1 million in a month since the spread of Corona in 2020.
Compared to June last year, international passengers increased by 420%.
Since the number of international passengers exceeded 500,000 for ten days in July this year, expectations are high that the total number of international passengers in July will exceed 1.5 million if this is the case.
The increase in the number of international passengers last month was largely due to the government's deregulation.
At the beginning of last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport lifted restrictions on coffee (flights from 8 pm to 5 am the next day) and slots (number of takeoffs and landings per hour) at Incheon International Airport.
It's been two years and two months.
Currently, Incheon International Airport is operating 24 hours as before Corona. Gimpo Airport also resumed operation of the Gimpo-Haneda route after two years and three months.
As overseas travel resumes in earnest, the travel industry, duty-free shops, and resort industries are also experiencing a boom.
In fact, travel agencies and airlines that have been shutting down are reinstating their employees who have been on leave and preparing for open recruitment.
Industry insiders expect the recovery trend to continue for the time being despite the re-emergence of the corona virus.
“The number of confirmed cases is increasing significantly, but the cancellation rate for new reservations is not much different from the cancellation rate before the coronavirus,” said the head of the PR team at a travel agency.
He said, "It is likely that there will be an impact depending on the situation of the corona outbreak and the government's quarantine policy in the future."
As overseas travel demand increases, 'duty-free limit from 600 to 800 dollars'
In response to the rapidly growing demand for overseas travel, the government has decided to raise the duty-free limit for the first time in eight years.
Overseas travel carry-on tax exemption is a system that relieves the burden of consumption by preventing travelers from taxing up to a certain limit on goods purchased from duty-free shops or overseas and brought into Korea.
The current duty-free scope for carry-on items per person is 1 bottle of alcohol, 60 ml of perfume, 200 cigarettes, and other items with a total value of less than $600.
If you exceed the duty-free limit, you will be charged tax on the difference.
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The government plans to keep the limit on cigarettes and perfume, but increase the quantity and limit of alcohol to two bottles and two liters.
The price base is kept below $400.
The duty-free limit for alcoholic beverages was 1 bottle in 1979 and 2 bottles from December 1988 to June 1993, but after that it was maintained at 1 bottle again.
It is the first time in over 30 years that the alcohol duty-free limit has been increased to two bottles.
The government said, "Most tourists purchase alcoholic beverages priced at around $200, but the limit on alcohol duty-free ($400) was not fully utilized because the number of bottles that can be purchased duty-free was limited to one bottle." "Considering international agreements and overseas cases, We have decided to expand the alcohol duty-free limit to two bottles.”
The duty-free limit for personal items will be increased from $600 per person to $800 per person.
The limit for duty-free personal items was 300,000 won in 1988.
In 1996, the currency was changed to 400 dollars.
It has remained the same for eight years since it was raised from $400 to $600 in 2014.
In consideration of the corona situation, the limit on purchases at duty-free shops for Koreans, which was set at $5,000 in March, was abolished, but it has been pointed out that the limit on duty-free purchases remains at $600, which is not helping to stimulate consumption.
The opinion that the duty-free limit should be raised to the level of neighboring countries such as China (about $775) and Japan (about $1821) also had an impact.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho said, "The period set at $600 has long since been set and there are difficulties in the tourism industry.
The sky road was open, but I was 'surprised' by the rising airfare
Before the corona virus, Mr. Park, a travel maniac who traveled abroad at least twice a year.
After the coronavirus endemic transition last March, he and his wife planned a trip to Paris for a summer vacation.
He checked the ticket price from time to time, but the ticket price rose day by day and eventually changed the destination.
The round-trip ticket price to Paris, which could be purchased at 800,000 won (based on direct flights) before Corona, was 2.5 million won.
Park said, "The cost burden is high because we have to spend 5 million won on the ticket price alone.
Despite the government's policy to revive the aviation and tourism industries in the face of exploding overseas travel demand, there are other reasons besides the corona virus that it is difficult to go out.
is the airfare price.
Air tickets are expensive. It's not like yesterday or today, but even if it goes up, it's too high.
Some people who are looking for a flight ticket while trying to go abroad for a long time change their vacation destination or give up on overseas travel altogether.
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According to Skyscanner, a travel price comparison site as of last month, the price of a round-trip ticket (direct flight, national flag) for the 'Incheon-New York' route in early July soared to a maximum of 4.1 million won.
The price jumped from the mid 1 million won level in 2019 to over 2 million won.
The situation is similar for European routes, and some of the Incheon-Paris round-trip routes departing on the weekend in July also exceeded 3 million won.
In the same month of 2019, it was around 1 million won.
Then, for a family of four to make a round trip to the United States, it is calculated that the airfare alone is over 10 million won.
For the price to fall, supply must match demand, but supply is insufficient.
As the government lifted the restrictions on the number of take-offs and landings and the number of take-offs and landings, the routes to Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, where there were many night flights, are getting some breath, but it is still insufficient.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also planning to approve the increase of international flights without any restrictions depending on the demand for aviation.
Airlines are also increasing their international flights.
Korean Air plans to recover 50% of the pre-COVID level by September of this year, and Asiana Airlines is also expanding its flights mainly to the Americas and Europe.
Low-cost carriers (LCCs), including Jeju Air, are also increasing the number of flights on short-haul routes to Southeast Asia.
Although it is difficult to predict the exact price for each route in the travel industry, it is expected that the price will drop by 20-30% if the number of flights is increased during July and August.
However, it will take time for the exact number of increased flights to be released, and it seems that it will take more time for the actual price reduction to be felt.
The supply is also insufficient, and fuel surcharges, which are included in airfare rates, have also risen sharply.
International oil prices soared due to the Ukraine war.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the average price of international jet fuel as of the 24th of last month was $172.73 per barrel.
It has more than doubled since July last year.
When airfare prices rise, airlines have no choice but to raise fuel surcharges.
According to the airline industry, the same 22 steps as this month will be applied to Korean Air's international fuel surcharge in August.
The standard for imposing fuel surcharges, which was at level 10 in March, was raised to level 19 in June, and has surpassed level 20 from this month.
This is a steep rise compared to the stage 2-5 in 2019, before Corona.
According to Korean Air's fuel surcharge, 42,900 to 339,300 won are charged in proportion to the distance based on one way.
For example, when purchasing a Korean Air round-trip ticket to New York, fuel surcharge of about 670,000 won is added.
Asiana Airlines charges 46,900 to 267,300 won, and if you purchase a round-trip ticket from Asiana Airlines to Bangkok and Guam, a fuel surcharge of 270,000 won will be charged.
Corona, prices, and exchange rates are 3 used... 1,300 won for a month
Min-mo, who took maternity leave earlier this year and planned a trip to the western United States for a month with her family in August, is contemplating adjusting her schedule.
Min said, "I have budgeted for the cost of living for three people including my wife and children for one month, but as the exchange rate rises to 1,300 won, I have to greatly increase travel expenses or reduce local expenses," said Min. I think it should be delayed,” he said.
Have you ever heard of the term 'Vacaflation'?
It is a new word combining 'vacation', which means vacation, and 'inflation', which means inflation.
Although it has become possible to travel abroad, which has not been possible for a while, the number of so-called 'stoppers' who have given up or postponed their travel plans due to the continuous high oil and high prices are increasing.
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Due to the steep US interest rate hike, the won-dollar exchange rate soared to 1,320 won, the highest in 13 years, on the 15th, and is moving at 1,300 won.
This is similar to the time of the foreign exchange crisis or the financial crisis.
As inflation spreads around the world, consumer price indexes in the US and Europe are also hitting new highs every day.
Considering that the pre-COVID exchange rate was 1,100 won, the cost of travel has risen by more than 15%, even excluding rising prices.
I go though... What if I got infected with Corona while abroad?
Although the circumstances and circumstances are not as good as the desire to leave, the number of people who still go abroad has increased significantly.
Once you decide to leave the country, what you are worried about is the unpredictable Corona situation.
The most frequently asked questions in online communities related to overseas travel are also questions about 'how to deal with coronavirus overseas' or 'corona related insurance'.
If you are infected with Corona while traveling abroad and receive treatment, what should you do with the cost of treatment and accommodation?
Travel insurance is insurance that covers accidents or losses that may occur while traveling.
Travel insurance considers a confirmed case of Corona as a disease, and supports the cost of medicine and hospitalization.
However, if you are self-isolating, insurance does not cover accommodation and food expenses regardless of treatment.
For example, the quarantine period for corona confirmed is 5-10 days depending on the country.
If you have to pay for your meals with accommodation and room service, it can cost up to millions of won.
In addition, if the return schedule is delayed, it is difficult to refund the airfare, so you have to pay again and cancel the return ticket.
Although some travel agencies have released products that support quarantine costs when they are confirmed locally, free travelers have no choice but to solve it themselves.
As a result of this situation, some free travelers have purchased foreign insurance that guarantees accommodation and return flights in case of quarantine despite high insurance premiums of 100,000 won per person.
It is a product sold by an insurance company called Heymondo, which is based in Spain.
However, as the number of Korean subscribers has increased recently, it has been reported that Korean residents have been prevented from subscribing to the product.
In the travel industry, it is believed that Heymondo blocked Korean residents from signing up as more Koreans signed up for insurance products and the loss ratio was expected to rise.
This is because the number of confirmed corona patients in Korea is increasing, and as it is compulsory to undergo a corona test upon arrival, there is a high possibility that more travelers will be diagnosed with the virus than other countries.
In Korea, the Korea Travel Association (KATA) is preparing a service to support part of accommodation and airfare in partnership with some insurance companies.
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If you are infected with the corona virus from abroad, you can enter the country without a negative confirmation if 10 days have elapsed from the date of confirmation.
If the symptoms are severe, contact the diplomatic mission abroad to receive hospital information and to receive transportation or emergency medicine assistance.
After returning home, you must undergo a PCR test on the first day of entry.
You will have to wait at home until the result is negative.
▶ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Safety Notice for Overseas Travel Safety
Before traveling, you should check the different entry regulations for each country in advance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs guides each country's regulations on its website, but there are still 40 countries that have mandatory provisions for entry, such as vaccination or quarantine.
As the entry regulations of each country can change suddenly depending on the situation, it is necessary to check the contents of the change before leaving the country.
It's updated almost every day, so it's a good idea to check it out.
(Composition: Reporter Seon-i Jang / Content design: Ji-soo Ok)