Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, bustles with passengers, in this file photo taken May 29, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 9 (Korea Bizwire) — The COVID-19 pandemic had suppressed travel sentiment for quite some time, but now it appears that overseas travel is making a comeback.
As a result, there has been a significant increase in sales of travel-related goods, with universal power adapters for overseas travel being one of the most popular items.
One such adapter that has gained popularity is the power conversion plug adapter, commonly known as a “pig nose” adapter due to its resemblance to a pig’s nose.
This adapter is essential for travelers when visiting countries with different outlet shapes and voltages than their home country.
For instance, when traveling to the United States, where the standard voltage is 120V (compared to 220V in South Korea), a transformer is required to use electronic products from South Korea.
However, even with a transformer, it takes longer for electronic appliances to operate in the U.S. due to the lower voltage. As a result, Korean travelers may need to exercise patience when using their devices in the U.S.
Despite the inconvenience of needing a transformer and longer operating times for electronic appliances in the U.S., Korean travelers are among those eager to explore the world.
This is reflected in the skyrocketing sales of universal adapters for overseas travel, with local dollar-shop chain Daiso reporting a 500 percent year-on-year increase in sales from January to March.
This photo, taken Feb. 23, 2023, shows people lining up to leave for Japan at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Hyundai Department Store has also seen impressive growth in sales of luggage, increasing 115.2 percent, 120.9 percent, and 40.6 percent year-on-year in the first three months of 2023.
The travel industry is showing signs of revival, with statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Aviation Association indicating a 117 percent increase in international travelers to South Korea in January compared to the same period last year.
As demand for overseas travel rises, banks are also offering special services and promotions.
Shinhan Bank has partnered with travel agency Mode Tour to offer a currency exchange event, while Hana Bank is holding an exchange event for Exciting Overseas Travel with duty-free operator Shilla Duty Free.
In the meantime, while the domestic travel industry is also booming, popular destination Jeju has been pushed out of the top rankings, with Chungcheong and Gyeonggi provinces, Incheon, Busan, and Gyeongsang Province taking the top five spots.
E-commerce platform TMON Inc. reported a 76 percent year-on-year increase in domestic travel sales in February, highlighting the overall growth of the travel industry.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
