Gyeonggi Province Implements Special Inspection of Quarantine Rules in Tourism Sector including Hotels and Theme Parks for Year-End and New Year Season

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will conduct special inspections on compliance with quarantine rules at tourism accommodation facilities and leisure facilities, where visitor numbers are expected to surge due to Christmas and the year-end and New Year season, until January 2 of next month.

The special inspection targets tourism hotels, condos at ski resorts, and theme parks (comprehensive leisure facilities) that are expected to see a sharp increase in visitors and pose high risk, in response to the recent trend of increased confirmed cases due to the COVID-19 Omicron variant and breakthrough infections.

Key inspection items include: at tourism accommodation facilities, ▲verification of compliance with the limit of 4 or fewer people per room ▲restraint from hosting events such as parties organized by accommodation facilities; and at comprehensive leisure facilities including theme parks, ▲restraint from events such as fireworks and performances that could draw large crowds ▲emphasis on verification of mask-wearing and compliance with capacity limits.

Since late April last year when COVID-19 began, the province has conducted inspections 19 times on designated tourism sites, tourism accommodation facilities, leisure facilities, and camping sites to check compliance with quarantine rules, and has been improving any shortcomings through preliminary inspections of the COVID-19 response systems at tourism facilities.

Next year, the province plans to continue inspections on compliance with quarantine rules focusing on multi-use tourism facilities where visitor numbers are expected to be high during holiday periods and vacation seasons.

Choi Yong-hun, head of the Tourism Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated: "With Christmas, year-end, and New Year season approaching, many gatherings between families and acquaintances are expected to take place at tourism accommodation facilities, and visitors are expected to concentrate at major tourism sites and leisure facilities in the province due to year-end and sunrise viewing events, raising concerns about the spread of infectious diseases." He added, "We hope that both business owners and users will comply with quarantine rules to spend a safe year-end."