As the number of single-person households is steadily increasing, Koreans are increasingly choosing to travel or spend their vacation time alone. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, June 27 (Korea Bizwire) – As the number of single-person households is steadily increasing, Koreans are increasingly choosing to travel or spend their vacation time alone. Solo traveling is more liberating and sometimes much more convenient than having a companion, leading to a more rewarding and satisfying travel experience.
According to travel website Interpark Tour, the number of solo travelers who booked plane tickets or travel packages has increased by 54 percent per year since 2013. In addition, 24 percent of the individuals who made hotel reservations for the July and August summer vacation period booked a single room.
Hana Tour, another travel agency, also saw a surge of people traveling by themselves.
In 2013 the number of people traveling alone who booked a Hana Tour travel package was 78,000, however the number increased to 119,000 in 2014 and 206,000 in 2015.
The most popular destination for these travelers was Japan.
Based on an analysis completed by Interpark Tour, a database of hotel reservations made for July and August of this year showed that the most frequently booked destination by single travelers was Osaka, Japan. Other popular Japanese cities ranked in the top ten, with the port city of Fukuoka coming in second; Tokyo, fourth; and Sapporo, ninth. The reason why Japan attracts so many solo travelers is its well-established “single-person” culture.
A database of hotel reservations made for July and August of this year showed that the most frequently booked destination by single travelers was Osaka, Japan. (image: Pixabay)
The list of preferred cities also included Paris (3rd), Hong Kong (5th), Prague (6th), London (7th), Bangkok (8th), and Shanghai (10th), all which are popular European destinations or easily accessible large cities in Asia.
All of the aforementioned cities are also big cities that offer convenient shopping and good public transit.
In terms of lodging, solo travelers favor hotels that are at the low end of the price range.
Two or three-star hotels such as the Shinjuku Washington Hotel in Tokyo and Toyo Hotel Fukuoka, Ibis London Earls Court Hotel in London, and Inter Hotel Lecourbe in Paris – all with an average nightly rate of 200,000 won or less – are most popular.
Interpark Tour is offering a special travel package (http://bit.ly/28ReDP3) that recommends travel destinations with hotels having the most number of available single rooms.
“The hotels that are most frequently booked in these cities are located near tourist attractions and are easily accessible by public transportation. Many are three or four-star hotels with attractive rates,” said Jung Youngmi, director of the Free Travel Team at Interpark Tour.
“Solo travelers often do their research and choose hotels that have been covered in the mass media or hotels that have many reviews on social media,” she added.
By Nonnie Kim (nkim@koreabizwire.com)
