South Korea's response to the global health crisis has been lauded as one of the world's best, which means that the country is now able to slowly open up. Although travel still remains a huge risk at this time, South Korea is planning to ease up restrictions to neighboring countries. These travel bubbles look to be the future of travel, which will allow countries to boost their economy through tourism while also just generally allowing citizens to move about and regain a semblance of order and normalcy.
This move by South Korea is in line with proposals set by other Asian countries; Japan is likewise looking to lift travel bans in the near future. So below is a quick overview of what these travel bubbles will look like and what it means for regional tourism.
Understanding the "travel bubble"
According to a recent report by DestinAsian, tourism industry representatives are presenting a proposal to create travel bubbles within Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has also responded well to this proposal. Under this new plan, travelers will be granted so-called "immunity passports" that will allow them to bypass 14-day quarantine restrictions. This allowance means that the relevant health ministries will need to create a game plan for this to be feasible, especially as the immunity passports are key in facilitating smooth travel and incentivizing citizens to take advantage of the ease in travel restrictions.
With New Zealand also looking to establish its own travel bubbles, it looks like such arrangements will soon be the norm around the world. While some are against the idea, warning that opening up travel may lead to further outbreaks across the globe, others are pointing to weakened tourism industries as a way to justify such proposals.
The need to boost tourism
It's not just inbound tourism that needs to be revived; outbound South Koreans also contribute greatly to other countries' tourism industries.
Case in point: South Koreans have always visited Vietnam, with resort islands like Hoi An and Phu Quoc very common destinations. ExpatBet's guide to Vietnam notes how the country is rife with unique and fascinating activities, such as scuba diving, rappelling, caving, and kayaking. This is what makes the country so appealing to beach-loving South Korean tourists. South Koreans' love for beaches and tropical getaways is also a huge reason behind their love for Thailand, a country that relies heavily on its tourism industry as a way to boost the local economy — which the Guardian points out is in need of rejuvenation.
Like South Korea, Taiwan has been similarly lauded for its swift response to the health crisis, which is also why the country can afford to ease up travel restrictions. It also helps that Taiwan has been a famous travel spot within the region, which means that demand will likely remain high once the opportunity to travel does open.
The emergence of these travel bubbles also goes in line with South Korea's aim to maintain good diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries. It remains to be seen just how these travel plans will play out, but travelers should remain optimistic.
