Credit: 123rf
SOUTH Korea’s national carrier is elated at news that the fuel surcharge imposed on international passengers is to be removed in September, the first time this cost is reduced to nothing in six years.
The move comes on the back of falling global oil prices and to serve as a boost for South Korea’s tourism sector that has suffered a series of problems this year.
The outbreak of MERS earlier in the summer had a dramatic impact on visitor numbers, while more recent border tensions with North Korea also convinced potential visitors to look elsewhere for their vacations.
“This is very good news and, we believe, will encourage more people to fly,” said a spokesperson for Korean Airlines, who declined to be named. “For flights from South Korea to Japan, the surcharge is only $10 or so, but it is a lot higher for longhaul flights to Europe and North America.”
“This will be a big help and we expect to see more people flying in the coming months,” he added.
South Korea’s tourism authorities have been working hard to reverse the dramatic decline in arrivals, with visitor numbers plummeting 40 per cent in June alone.
Other initiatives include cutting the highway toll between Incheon International Airport and Seoul by 10 per cent from September 1.
