"Resting at Home"... The Stay-at-Home Holiday Has Begun

Survey Results: Over Half Plan to "Relax at Home"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Cheol-hyun] This year's Lunar New Year holiday saw many people staying at home instead of visiting their hometowns. The contactless holiday continues for the second year. The five-day "stay-at-home holiday" began from the 29th through next Wednesday, the 2nd.

According to a Lunar New Year holiday plan survey conducted by TMON from the 21st over four days with 480 customers, 53% responded that they would "rest at home," the highest percentage. Additionally, 11% said they would "enjoy content such as videos and games at home."

However, compared to last year, some are cautiously planning family gatherings and leisure activities due to fatigue accumulated from the prolonged COVID-19 situation. While 64% of respondents chose the stay-at-home holiday, showing a relatively high figure, it decreased by 21 percentage points compared to last year's survey result (85%).

Responses indicating they would "visit parents' or relatives' homes" also rose to 21%, up 15 percentage points from last year's 6%. When asked about family gathering plans, 40% answered they would "visit their parents," the highest response. Those who said they would "avoid all meetings" decreased to 32% from 37% last year.

In preparing holiday gifts, the contactless trend remained dominant. Sending "cash as a gift" ranked first with 39%. The response "I will send gifts through online channels such as TMON" came in second with 33%, showing strong preference. Twenty-five percent chose "purchase directly and deliver in person," and 19% said they "have no plans."

The desire to plan travel as soon as possible was also evident. If not for COVID-19, 41% of respondents said they "would have enjoyed domestic travel" during the Lunar New Year holiday. Thirty-two percent said they "would have rested at home," and 22% said they "would have definitely traveled abroad." The most desired winter leisure activities were "skiing and sledding" (34%) and "water parks and spas" (33%).