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Photo courtesy of HanaTour

HanaTour has significantly enhanced travel convenience and choice diversity with "Hana Free Pack," a service that combines the benefits of both independent travel and package tours.

HanaTour launched and is currently operating Hana Free Pack, a new product adding elements of package tours to independent travel, last June. Hana Free Pack operates in a way where travelers choose a basic flight and hotel combination (airtel) and then directly assemble detailed itineraries and local experiences.

This product was designed to ease concerns for travelers who feel burdened by complex itinerary design, local transportation, and unexpected safety issues amid the rapid growth of the fully independent travel (FIT) market. By suggesting local tours that suit destinations, schedules, and preferences, HanaTour has reduced the burden of information gathering, integrating local networks and product validation capabilities accumulated from operating package tours into independent travel.

Hana Free Pack, which bridges the gap between independent travel and package tours, is expected to attract not only independent travelers but also a portion of the existing demand for package tours. Unlike package tours with predetermined itineraries and routes, Hana Free Pack allows travelers to freely assemble activities according to their desired dates. This provides another option for travelers who feel unsatisfied with standardized schedules and the limited autonomy of scheduled free time.

Local experiences are provided through "Local Tour Plus," directly planned and operated by HanaTour. It is a service bundling local transportation, admission tickets, activities, and culinary/cultural experiences by destination and schedule. Since the travel agency directly verifies and operates the products, it is expected to reduce risks such as quality variations or booking errors encountered when making individual reservations.

Response measures for unexpected variables that may occur during travel have also been strengthened. Through "H-Care," a 24-hour overseas emergency assistance service, HanaTour provides services such as hospital guidance, medical evacuation, and local interpretation support. By offering an alternative to the lack of local support—previously pointed out as a representative vulnerability of individual travel—HanaTour expects to lower safety burdens for solo travelers as well as those accompanied by the elderly or children.

A HanaTour official stated, "This product stemmed from the pain points of both independent travelers tired of searching for information and package tour travelers dissatisfied with fixed itineraries," adding, "It focuses on leveraging the advantages of independent travel while reducing the burdens of preparation and safety through verified local infrastructure and 24-hour support."

                                                                                                            Lee Jang-won