Hana Tour Reports Surge in Hawaii and Maldives Honeymoon Bookings, "70% Recovery Compared to Pre-COVID Levels"

Reservation Numbers Increased More Than 10 Times Compared to January-February
Over Half Concentrated in Hawaii... Followed by Maldives, Guam, Saipan, Cancun

Maldives resort panorama. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Hana Tour recently announced on the 4th that honeymoon bookings in April have recovered to about 70% of pre-COVID levels, driven mainly by destinations such as Hawaii and the Maldives.

According to Hana Tour's April honeymoon booking trends announced on the 4th, the total number of bookings reached 1,272, which is more than 10 times higher compared to January and February. Compared to March, when bookings surged following the government's announcement of quarantine exemptions for overseas arrivals, bookings increased by 41.6%.

Honeymoon bookings have recovered to about 70% of the levels seen in April 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Hana Tour explained that the increase is more pronounced compared to other travel types such as package tours.

The most popular honeymoon destination in April was Hawaii (57.7%), followed by the Maldives (17.5%), Guam (14.8%), Saipan (8.0%), and Cancun (2.0%). While Guam and Saipan accounted for the majority of bookings in January and February, bookings for Hawaii and the Maldives have shown significant growth since March.

April Honeymoon Reservation Share. Table = Hanatour

Considering that in 2019, honeymoon destinations were mainly Southeast Asia and Europe, it appears that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed honeymoon destination preferences.

More than half of the April bookings are scheduled for departures between April and June. Over 80% of Guam and Saipan bookings are for departures during this period. Hana Tour interprets this trend as many newlyweds preparing for their weddings are booking honeymoons close to their wedding dates amid the recent easing of social distancing measures.

In response to the increase in honeymoon bookings, Hana Tour is holding a limited invitation consultation event every Saturday at its headquarters for 50 couples. Additionally, if a customer tests positive for COVID-19 during their honeymoon, Hana Tour provides support for accommodation and meal costs during local quarantine as well as return airfare. This support applies to guide-free independent travel products in Hawaii and Cancun and will soon be extended to honeymoon trips in Europe and Southeast Asia.

A Hana Tour official said, "There are many last-minute honeymoon bookings, and there is also considerable demand from couples who postponed their honeymoons due to COVID-19. We expect that once domestic and international quarantine measures are further relaxed, honeymoon trips to Europe, along with Hawaii and the Maldives, will become highly popular."