On the 18th, 41 Koreans went on a golf trip to Thailand. This is a so-called’golf quarantine’ product user who plays golf for two weeks at a golf course near Bangkok designated by the Thai government as a quarantine facility. The golf quarantine tour was the first in the world to be used by a Korean group, so not only the Thai media but also various foreign media took notice. Photo Bangkok Post Capture
The second year of the corona crisis. The suppressed desire to travel abroad erupted. Two weeks after arriving in a foreign country, and two weeks after returning to Korea, an overseas travel product undertaking self-isolation departed on the 18th. It is a package product that combines self-isolation and golf at a Thai golf course and was used by 41 Korean groups. It is the first time that a Korean group has gone on a package tour abroad since the coronavirus outbreak, and the Thai government has received a group of foreign tourists.
On the 18th of this month, 41 travelers gathered at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. He was a customer of the’Thai Golf Quarantine’ product departing for Bangkok by Korean Air. Here is a summary of the products made by the travel agency’Journey Travel’. She spends 15 days at the’Atitaya Golf Course’ located outside Bangkok. Atitaya is one of six isolated golf courses designated by the Thai government and owned by Koreans. Journey Travel is a subsidiary of Atitaya.
When you arrive, you can’t leave the room for the first four days. Meals are brought to the room. From the 5th to the 15th, he enjoys unlimited golf. The quarantine period of the room is flexible depending on the quarantine situation in Thailand, and travelers must undergo PCR tests three times during the quarantine period. The caddy does not accompany you. Each person uses a cart one at a time. If you need a caddy, you’ll have to pay an extra fee, but the caddy must also be quarantined at the resort, which is not expensive. The product price is 2.49 million won, excluding air tickets, and 2.23 million won if you don’t play golf. Two of these groups will not play golf and will rest at the resort. Most of the customers are in their 60s.
One of the six isolated golf courses designated by the Thai government, Atitaya Golf Course is owned by Koreans. It is said that rooms are frequently quarantined and measures are taken to prevent the traffic of users from overlapping. The photo shows an employee of a golf course wrapped in plastic. Photo Journey Travel
According to Journey Travel, Korean groups are currently playing golf safely. Some customers go to Chiang Mai to play more golf after completing the 15-night schedule, while others visit local relatives. In Thailand, if corona negative is confirmed, you can stay without a visa for up to 45 days. Ahn Seong-hee, CEO of Journey Travel, said, “It has a special meaning in that it opened the door to overseas travel, which has been blocked for a long time,” and said, “It is scheduled to depart twice in March, but now about 10 people have booked.” Representative Ahn said, “Since March, the fee for using golf courses has been so high that there are many inquiries about overseas golf trips.”
After arriving at Atitaya Golf Course in Thailand, Koreans started playing golf after five days of quarantine. Photo Journey Travel
Korean golf tour groups are also hot topic in Thailand. This is because Koreans were the first to actually use golf quarantine products in Thailand, a major tourist destination. On the day of departure, the head of the Korea Office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand came to Incheon Airport to see the group off. Not only the local media in Thailand, but also foreign media such as Reuters and South China Morning Post showed interest. South China Morning Post reported, “The number of Korean golf travelers who visited Thailand in 2019 reached 250,000, and the Thai government expects more Koreans to visit Thailand to relax.”
This is not the first time overseas travel products have appeared since the corona crisis. In November of last year, Good Travel received a reservation fee of 10,000 won and introduced overseas travel products departing after March this year. It achieved 17,000 reservations, but it did not guarantee departure. It was a marketing event that was held in anticipation of the coronavirus outbreak and the elimination of the quarantine obligation for immigration and departure. In fact, all reservations for Japanese and Southeast Asian products that were scheduled to depart in March are either receiving refunds or delaying reservations.
White Beach in Boracay, Philippines. Interpark Tour recorded sales of 2.9 billion won by showing off overseas resort products including Boracay on the two home shopping channels recently. Photo Interpark Tour
Interpark Tour sold 2.9 billion won worth of overseas travel products through home shopping twice on January 22 and February 21. For the first time since the coronavirus outbreak, overseas travel products appeared on TV home shopping channels and exceeded expectations. The product sold at home shopping was a three-night itinerary at resorts in Southeast Asian resorts such as Danang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam, and Boracay and Bohol in the Philippines, and the departure date was not specified. It can be used within one year from the time the obligation to self-isolate between the two countries disappears. It also issued conditions such as refund within one month after payment and change to a domestic hotel within this year. An Interpark Tour official said, “The 8,500 customers who paid 300,000 to 400,000 won mean that there was a lot of repressed demand,” he said. “Next month, we plan to conduct home shopping at Vinpearl Resort in Vietnam.”
Reporter Choi Seung-pyo [email protected]
