Like many other countries around the world, South Korea has also begun to relax its preventive measures against covid-19. After a long period of restricting entry to the country, the Korean government has now authorized tourists to enter. This is now possible without having to go through the quarantine stage. However, entry without a stay in isolation is subject to a number of conditions, and this suggests that authorization for travel to the country remains fragile.
South Korea allows tourists to enter the country without quarantine
South Korea now accepts travelers from other countries, provided they are fully vaccinated. Regardless of which country they come from, tourists can now set foot on Korean soil without having to go through the isolation stage. This decision comes at a time when the country has embarked on a wave of measures to ease restrictions linked to the coronavirus. Apart from vaccination, these tourists must register their vaccination status, which is the only condition for passing through the airport. Although quarantine is no longer a requirement, a negative coronavirus test prior to entry into the country is still necessary.
The country's airports are already falling into step with this new government measure. Incheon International Airport is already planning to welcome nearly 20,000 passengers for the first time in almost two years. Incheon is the main gateway to Seoul and the rest of South Korea. Before Covid 19, daily traffic at this famous airport averaged 200,000. In the meantime, this figure had dropped to 3,000 as a result of pandemic-related restrictions. By Friday morning, the quarantine facilities for international travellers and the bus station designated for their passage had already been demolished. Tourists are now allowed to take regular public transport with other travellers.
A still fragile easing of sanitary restrictions
Although the decision to lift health restrictions linked to quarantine may seem beneficial to travellers, it does not yet augur stability. Indeed, the South Korean government has stated that the quarantine measure could be reinstated if the coronavirus situation in the country were to evolve. Health authorities will continue to monitor the risk of the virus in each country. Should a new variant emerge, they will regulate quarantine exemptions by country in a flexible manner.
It must be acknowledged that the various restrictive measures imposed by the country since March 2020 have greatly contributed to curbing the spread of the coronavirus. Even if the measures have been strongly criticized by citizens, they have still contributed to the country's success in fighting back against the virus. What's more, although travel demand increased after the quarantine waiver, international travel is unlikely to resume immediately. The risk of coronavirus remains, and soaring fuel prices are not reassuring the country's leaders to fully reopen international flights.
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