Tourists to Jeju are also concerned about possible infection with COVID-19 while traveling.
Experts point out that the tourism industry should come up with guidelines to maintain distance between people when they travel.
Mike Laidman reports.

[slug] Jeju International Airport

Despite there having been a substantial decrease in the number of visitors to Jeju Island since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, there are still more than 10,000 tourists visiting the island every day.

[slug] COVID-19 puts visitors at unease

And fear of the virus is making some of these visitors especially uneasy.
All of the passengers getting off this plane wear masks, and they use the hand sanitizer at the entrance of the airport to keep their hands germ-free.
They also keep a larger distance between themselves and strangers.

INTERVIEW
Park Ji-yeon / Tourist from Gimpo
I’m here with my family. We’re trying to maintain some distance with strangers.
<인터뷰 : 박지연 / 경기도 김포시>
"저희는 가족 단위로 왔기 때문에 가족들 건강이 아무래도 (걱정됩니다). 이동하는데 가까이 있으면 안 된다고 해서."

INTERVIEW
Kim Ui-yeong / Tourist from Seoul
I’ll try to avoid crowds while travelling. I’ll try and visit quiet places instead.
<인터뷰 : 김의영 / 서울특별시 양천구>
"일단 뭐 가능한 한 사람 많이 있는 곳은 피하고, 최소한 (조용한) 그런 데만 이용하고."

[slug] Jeolmul Recreational Forest

Outdoor tourist attractions, like forests, are seeing upticks in people when compared with what are usually crowded places.
In these wide-open spaces it's much easier to avoid close contact with others, which means relief for many.

INTERVIEW
Yi Chan-hyeong, Im Byeong-hyeon / Tourists from Anyang
We didn’t include indoor places in our itinerary as indoor places are more dangerous, I think. Actually, many indoor places are even closed.
<인터뷰 : 이찬형 임병현 / 경기도 안양시>
"애초에 실내 쪽은 잘 안 알아봤어요. 여행 계획 짤 때. 아무래도 실외보다는 더 위험하겠죠? 찾아보니까 문 닫은 데도 많고 해서."



The Jeju Tourism Society recently conducted a survey on the fear the virus is causing.
40 percent of respondents said they felt uneasy, a higher number than those reporting that they feel safe or without worry.



Considering their satisfaction level concerning the island's virus prevention efforts, the respondents said they were more satisfied with the disinfection work being done on airplanes and at the airport than in taxis and buses.



[slug] Guidelines needed to keep distance among people

Meanwhile, experts point out that the tourism industry should come up with guidelines to maintain distance with others on one’s travel.

[slug] Rearrangement of tables, drive through service proposed

The guidelines can include table rearrangement and introduction of drive through service temporarily at restaurants, hotels or tourism attractions to minimize contact between guests and guests or guest and employees.

INTERVIEW
Hong Seong-hwa / Jeju Tourism Society
If we have guidelines of dos and don’ts to minimize contact with others at tourist attractions, the local tourism industry would gain trust. This will help the tourism industry in Jeju survive and be more sustainable.
<인터뷰 : 홍성화 / 제주관광학회장>
"관광객과 종사원의 대면을 최소화하는, 사회적 거리두기에 최적화된 행동 수칙을 만들고 부여하게 된다면, 관광객이 제주 관광에 대해서 상당히 신뢰를 하게 되고, 중·장기적으로 제주관광에 큰 도움이 될 것으로 보고 있습니다."

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Park Byeong-june
[CG] Park Hye-jin

Along with industry’s efforts, tourists are more advised to voluntarily maintain distance with strangers especially this week.

Mike Laidman, KCTV