Osaka, Japan (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)
SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Korea Bizwire) – As South Korea prepares for an extended holiday in early October, thanks to the government’s designation of Armed Forces Day as a temporary public holiday, a surge in travel bookings reveals a strong preference for Japanese destinations among Korean tourists.
According to data released by Trip.com on September 30, overseas travel bookings for the early October holiday period have increased by 63% compared to the same period last year. The analysis shows that Osaka, Japan, has emerged as the most popular foreign destination for South Korean travelers.
The top three international destinations are all in Japan, with Tokyo and Fukuoka following Osaka. Bangkok, Thailand; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Taipei, Taiwan; and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam round out the list of favored locations.
The trend extends to specific attractions as well, with Japanese theme parks and landmarks dominating the list of most-booked sites.
Universal Studios Japan tops the list, followed by attractions such as Shibuya Sky, Tokyo Disneyland, and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo (Harry Potter Studio). In fact, six out of the top 10 most popular attractions are located in Japan.
A spokesperson for Trip.com attributed this trend to the increased number of holidays compared to last year, which has sparked greater interest in international travel.
However, they noted that the preference for nearby destinations like Japan may be due to the practicalities of using personal leave days for longer trips.
“While there’s heightened enthusiasm for overseas travel, extending vacations requires using more personal days off. This seems to have led to an increase in bookings for destinations that are closer and more accessible,” the spokesperson explained.
In contrast to the boom in international travel, domestic tourism in South Korea has seen a more modest increase of about 14% compared to the same period last year. Seoul, Busan, and Jeju remain the most popular domestic destinations for Korean travelers.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
