The Transport and Logistics Bureau reminded local airlines to tell affected travellers of the latest flight arrangements as soon as possible, and to provide them with necessary support and assistance.

The flight restrictions introduced by South Korea came to light on Tuesday after Beijing’s decision to suspend the issuance of short-term visas to arrivals from the country. The Korean consulate in Hong Kong, which originally did not make it clear when the rule was introduced, on Wednesday said the measure was rolled out on Monday, a day before mainland China’s move.

Japanese U-turn on Hong Kong travel restrictions surprises industry

Official websites of airlines showed that all direct flights from Hong Kong to Jeju or Busan airports had been suspended. One-way flights to Seoul around the Lunar New Year had shot up to HK$4,000 ($512), or roughly double the non-peak prices.

South Korea’s flight restrictions derailed some Hongkongers’ planned trips to popular travel destinations outside Seoul during the upcoming holiday.

Steven Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of travel EGL Tours, said his company was scrambling for flights for 60 affected tourists planning to visit Busan during the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins on January 22, via direct services operated by budget carrier Hong Kong Express.

Instead of travelling directly to Busan, he said the customers now had to fly to Seoul first before taking a three-hour bus trip to the popular port city.

“This abrupt ban is not only a buzzkill for tourists in Hong Kong after three years under strict travel restrictions, but it also affects hospitality businesses in South Korea. It’s a lose-lose situation,” Huen said.

Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday that South Korean authorities cited centralised epidemic prevention and control in requiring flights from Hong Kong and Macau to only land at Incheon until February 28.

The polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) requirement for all arrivals from Hong Kong and Macau within 48 hours before their arrival is still effective from January 7.

Domestic transit to other flights at Incheon was also not allowed, according to a notice on the website of the South Korea consulate in Hong Kong.

The row was sparked by Seoul’s move last month to join a list of nations imposing travel curbs on Chinese visitors, such as visa restrictions and testing requirements, citing a surge in Covid-19 cases on the mainland.

These restrictions were put in place after China announced it would drop mandatory isolation measures for positive cases as part of its drastic departure from its zero-Covid policy.

In Beijing’s retaliation against Covid-related curbs, China has not only suspended issuing some visas for South Korea, but also Japan according to media reports in Tokyo on Tuesday.

China suspends visas for South Koreans, Japanese over travel restrictions

International relations scholar Wilson Chan Wai-shun of Chinese University said Beijing’s reaction fulfilled a “promise” suggested by its diplomats earlier.

He referred to remarks by Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, that the travel curbs lacked “scientific basis” and that China could take countermeasures.

In Beijing’s view, the scholar said Seoul’s reliance on China for its semiconductor materials made such retaliation a “rather safe card” to play.

“South Korea’s countermeasure is quite at an equivalent level to satisfy diplomatic needs, as it only limited the flow of passengers – mainly tourists – without harming business activities in its capital,” he said.

Chan added that further escalation by either side was “unlikely” considering that a return to normalcy had been played up in Beijing’s official narrative and the Korean government might not wish the row to spillover to other areas, notably trade and business.

This story originally stated that South Korea introduced the flight restriction after Beijing’s decision to suspend the issuance of short-term visas to arrivals from the country. However, the Korean consulate in Hong Kong has clarified the timing.