Gyeonggi Province Expands Non-Face-to-Face Ticket Purchase...Prepares Special Transportation Measures for Lunar New Year amid COVID-19

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will implement the '2021 Lunar New Year Special Transportation Measures' from the 10th to the 14th to create a safe public transportation environment by preventing the spread of COVID-19 during the Lunar New Year holiday.

According to provincial officials, this measure aims to prevent potential COVID-19 spread during the Lunar New Year holiday period, as travel volume is expected to increase due to holiday travel and outings. This is prompted by concerns about decreased vigilance in quarantine practices after a year of sustained social distancing and fatigue from movement restrictions.

To this end, the province will strengthen regular quarantine systems for public transportation including city buses, intercity buses, and taxis.

Mask wearing will be mandatory not only for transport workers but also for passengers, and vehicles and terminals will be disinfected at least once daily.

Additionally, prevention guidelines will continue to be announced through promotional materials inside vehicles and G-BUS TV.

In particular, the province plans to expand non-face-to-face ticket purchases through online booking and ticket vending machines when purchasing express bus tickets and other fares, and to prioritize window seat reservations.

The province will also continue operating dedicated airport buses for international arrivals, which have been running since the COVID-19 outbreak, regardless of holidays.

This measure aims to prevent community transmission by separating international arrivals from general passengers and blocking contact. Ten routes connecting Incheon Airport and major transit hubs within the province will operate 40 times daily.

Additionally, the province will conduct maintenance on defective road surfaces and road facilities, and strengthen transportation order by cooperating with local governments, bus transport business associations, and bus terminals to ensure compliance with traffic laws and safety rules and adherence to operating schedules.

Real-time road traffic information is available through the Gyeonggi Province Traffic Information Center website (gits.gg.go.kr), smartphones (mgits.gg.go.kr, Gyeonggi Traffic and Bus Information apps), Twitter (@16889090), private portals (Naver, Daum, etc.), and navigation systems.

Park Tae-hwan, Director of Transportation, stated, "We recommend limiting travel during this Lunar New Year to establish quarantine systems before vaccine rollout and to prevent COVID-19 spread." He added, "If travel is unavoidable, please strictly adhere to quarantine rules."