Tourism service providers said the peak season for Korean visitors to travel to Vietnam is typically from December to April.
But the Dec. 29 Jeju Air crash, one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters, which claimed 179 lives, has disrupted travel in that country, they said.
Thanh Bach Tourism Transport Company based in Phu Quoc and specializing in inbound tourism from South Korea, reported a 30% drop in bookings and the cancelation of 30% of group tours.
A company executive said many Korean tourists are now hesitant to fly in the wake of the tragedy.
Tran The Hai, sales and marketing director at Sailing Club Leisure Group in Phu Quoc, reported a 10% decline in bookings after the crash.
While the situation is gradually improving, it would take time to return to normal levels, he added.
A Jeju Air plane carrying 181 people skidded across the runway while attempting to land at Muan Airport in South Jeolla Province due to landing gear failure, collided with a concrete wall and exploded.
Only two flight attendants seated at the rear survived the crash.
According to data from online travel platform Agoda, South Korea was one of Vietnam’s top five tourism source markets during the New Year holiday along with Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and the U.S.
The most popular destinations for South Korean tourists include Nha Trang, Da Nang and Phu Quoc.
The disaster and temporary closure of Muan Airport have caused a 30-40% decline in South Korean arrivals, according to the tourism association in Khanh Hoa Province, home to Nha Trang and Cam Ranh cities.
Pham Minh Nhat, the association’s permanent vice president, attributed the downturn also to political issues in South Korea that have affected travelers’ confidence.
In Da Nang, the owner of a four-star hotel in Ngu Hanh Son District reported mass cancelations by 50-60 guests between December 30 and January 10.
“We bore almost all the losses,” they said.
The crash has had a ripple effect on tourism.
A day after the accident Jeju Air recorded 68,000 ticket cancelations.
Korean travel agencies pulled online advertisements, halted sales on home shopping channels and prioritized processing flight and tour cancelations.
The Nate News portal reported increased apprehension among consumers about low-cost airlines.
The Boeing 737-800 model involved in the crash is widely used by budget carriers in South Korea, including 39 by Jeju Air.
Many winter travel packages to destinations like Southeast Asia and Japan, typically reliant on low-cost carriers, have also been canceled.
Aram Jeong, a Seoul resident and frequent traveler to Vietnam, said she plans to avoid traveling for a while to recover mentally.
“I feel fortunate but no longer want to fly with low-cost airlines.”
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board’s 2020 Survivability Report said only 1.3% of passengers involved in commercial aviation accidents between 2001 and 2017 died, a sharp decrease from the 4.7% rate between 1983 and 2000.
Aviation experts point out that despite rare tragedies airplanes remain the safest mode of transport due to stringent safety regulations and ongoing advancements in aircraft design.
Tourism businesses in Phu Quoc remain optimistic about a rebound in South Korean arrivals.
According to industry insiders, Vietnam is the second most popular international destination for Korean tourists after only Japan thanks to its warm hospitality, high-quality services and affordable prices.
As Korean tourists increasingly shift their focus to southern destinations like Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, insiders expect visitor numbers to stabilize by February as traveler confidence recovers.
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