Sales of plastic models (2.9 percent), Playstations (80.8 percent), Playstation games (198.6 percent) and PCs (85.7 percent) increased compared to the same period last year. (image: 5th Luna/flickr)
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Korea Bizwire) – It seems like ‘staycations‘ are becoming a new trend during vacation season. Putting together the words ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’, ‘staycations’ are a new way of enjoying a vacation at home, or near home.
The reasons behind this trend include avoiding a flood of people, the deadly heat, and the ridiculously high costs of traveling during peak season. People prefer to stay at home and rest, or do other activities without having to travel far away.
According to Macromillembrain, a market research company, among 1,000 adults aged 19 to 59, over half (51.7 percent) answered that they do not need to travel to enjoy their vacation.
Lotte Mart also stated that their sales of indoor activity products increased during the summer vacation period (July 1 to August 9). Sales of plastic models (2.9 percent), Playstations (80.8 percent), Playstation games (198.6 percent) and PCs (85.7 percent) increased compared to the same period last year.
Sales of beadwork kits (169.7 percent) and craft kits (280.6 percent) showed the highest rate of growth. Lotte Mart analyzed the trend and offered its take on the situation: “With an increasing number of people that feel like it’s too much to go on vacation, we are observing great changes in the sales of indoor activity products. We plan to add various products and provide customers with discount events.”
The staycation trend can also be seen at online shopping sites. GMarket, an online shopping site, asked 983 of their customers on how they wanted to spend their vacation, and 57 percent answered that they ‘did not want to do anything’, exceeding the portion of people that answered they should ‘travel around’ (43 percent). As if they were trying to prove the results, sales of games for XBOX and Wii (32 percent), blocks (122 percent) and comic books (32 percent) increased.
GMarket officials explained the changes that occurred in sales: “Because of the recession, a new form of vacation developed. People stay home and rest, and light activities that are good for passing time at home are selling well.”
By M.H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
