Tour agency adapts to new way of traveling

A group of tourists disembark a boat for an adventure with WinK Travels./Courtesy of William Cho

By Hallie Bradley

Travel in the time of COVID-19 isn't on most peoples' minds. But it is for tour operators, who are changing the way they do things to adapt to a new way of traveling.

With fewer people opting to get out and about and the government suggesting against non-essential travel, companies like When in Korea (WinK) Travels are looking to change with the times so that people can safely enjoy travel again. William Cho, owner of WinK Travels, explained that they “are currently having to cancel the trips but believe with proper care, people can enjoy a trip without spreading the cases.”

Cho, originally an electronic engineer by training, lost his job in 2008 during the financial crisis in the U.S. and decided to make a career shift into tourism. His first trip was a tour to southeastern city of Gyeongju during the spring where travelers could ride bikes leisurely beneath the cherry blossoms. Though the trip didn't make much money, it was a huge success and he's been taking tourists around the country ever since.

“We go places that we know are worth going,” he explained. “There are so many festivals not worth going to. People trust us to go places that are worth visiting.” Cho spends time and effort to narrow down the best spots to see in Korea, so travelers with limited time and resources don't have to.

To adapt to what might be a new way of tourism, Cho is promoting tours with new rules. Tourists must wear masks especially while on the bus. Sanitizers and antiviral wipes are at the entrance of the bus and everyone will be urged to use them throughout the trip when entering and departing the bus. Reminders to respect social distancing will also be given throughout the day. “Sign-ups are low so many trips are being canceled, but we also believe the businesses need customers [in order to] to stay open so we think we can play a part there,” Cho explained.

A group of tourists enjoy smores on a fire. / Courtesy of William Cho

Though WinK is a service that caters to foreigners and expats in Korea, Cho also encourages Koreans to join as it makes the tours more dynamic. The company takes people to various places throughout the year including Jeju Island and visits a natural pool that visitors can swim in.

“We were the only ones there when we found it, since it has become a popular spot for many Korean nationals to also jump into and enjoy,” Cho said.

There are also trips to the DMZ ― Cho says these are the best in the country ― which include a Q&A session with a North Korea defector. “I give a very detailed historical background of Korea and the war so people can get a better idea of why North Korea is the way it is. And the Q&A session with the North Korean defector is extremely educational and eye-opening,” he explained.

He also highly recommends their templestay tour at Seonam Temple with the best monk he has ever met. Whether the tour includes the DMZ or island-hopping, there are options for every kind of traveler.

Visit fb.com/winktravels to learn more about upcoming events and trips.

Hallie Bradley is a writer based in Seoul and runs the popular site thesoulofseoul.net.