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So, I am trying to book a trip to Asia for next year. I have a booking for Tokyo on the outbound but want to travel back from either Seoul or Osaka. I have done a bit of reading around and it seems Seoul should certinly be back for 2023. Does anyone know what is going on with this?
seems Seoul should certinly be back for 2023
Where have you read this?
There is nothing “certain” when it comes to travelling to Korea, Japan and other Asian destinations. They could likely announce opening measures soon (could be wrong about Korea but Japan for sure hasn’t yet) as they are to extend current foreign travel restrictions.
Don’t book anything you cannot cancel.
PS: additionally, Russian airspace closure means many flights are being cancelled right now
@Dace, keep checking the government websites and local news. Casual travellers on the other side of the planet won’t know more than local news websites.
As yonasl says, don’t book anything that’s not refundable.South Korea is open for tourism as of 1 April. Japan – discussions are happening this week.
It will take a long time after announcement before airlines start putting on flights. BA has also abandoned many Asian destinations for a while, focusing on transatlantic flights more. Given staff shortages, I don’t see them putting back many flights to Asia in the near future, certainly not first half of 2023.
Edit: For sake of completeness, the following Asian countries have quarantine-free travel at the moment:
India, South Korea, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 4 months ago by .
South Korea is open for tourism as of 1 April. Japan – discussions are happening this week.
It will take a long time after announcement before airlines start putting on flights. BA has also abandoned many Asian destinations for a while, focusing on transatlantic flights more. Given staff shortages, I don’t see them putting back many flights to Asia in the near future, certainly not first half of 2023.
Edit: For sake of completeness, the following Asian countries have quarantine-free travel at the moment:
India, South Korea, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia.
Didn’t know about Korea, sounds great while Japan remains closed (even if, as I understand, Korea just dropped masks on the street now!)
A website I use that May help others for Japan is:
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/05/bec2b1a66831-coronavirus-pandemic-latest-may-11-2022.html
South Korea is open for tourism as of 1 April. Japan – discussions are happening this week.
Yes, my understanding of travel to South Korea is that a PCR test is presently still required and if you are fully jagged then no need to quarantine. I have been watching daily the cost of flights to ICN go up & up. Here’s hoping this goes into reverse soon as I’m hoping to see young Ms Peggerz who resides in Seoul, in October.
South Korea is open for tourism as of 1 April. Japan – discussions are happening this week.
Yes, my understanding of travel to South Korea is that a PCR test is presently still required and if you are fully jagged then no need to quarantine. I have been watching daily the cost of flights to ICN go up & up. Here’s hoping this goes into reverse soon as I’m hoping to see young Ms Peggerz who resides in Seoul, in October.
Yes, South Korea is well and truly open. I went in October last year and I needed Quarantine Exemption Certificate from the Korean Ministry of Business, which was not straight forward at all and is another story. Was there 2 weeks ago and so much easier. Just need to register on the Q Code system and if you’re fully jabbed then no quarantine and just a PCR on arrival. Note, you need to be no later than 180 days if only had 2 doses, no time restriction if had a booster. My colleague only realised this 2 days before and had to miss the trip!
Experience-wise is much more normal. In October almost everything was shut and I didn’t see a single US, European visitor all week. 2 weeks ago the hotel / metro / restaurants / shops were almost normal and full of visitors. Still needed a mask in- and outside but I believe they may be dropping the outside rule soon.
Finnair J both times and would take that over BA most times anyway. Get Cathay lounge in T3, an A350, great service and perfectly fine seat and seamless easy transfer in HEL. Had a 2.5hr delay on the LHR-HEL leg (cargo loaders, not Finnair) which meant would have missed HEL-ICN leg, but they radioed ahead and held the plane for 30 mins so we could make it. Astonishingly even my bag did!
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