1 in 2 People Choose 'Weekday Departure'... The Number of Niche Travelers Has Increased

Gmarket, Analysis of Overseas Travel Trends in the First Half of the Year

Analysis of Gmarket's Overseas Travel Trends for the First Half of the Year.
[Photo by Gmarket]

Recently, the number of 'niche travelers' who take overseas trips regardless of departure day or off-peak/peak seasons has been increasing.

According to Gmarket on the 29th, the number of overseas flight ticket reservations from the 2nd to the 17th of this month increased by 84% compared to the previous month, and the proportion of weekday departures exceeded 50%. The share of departures by day of the week is about 11% on Monday, 12% on Tuesday, 14% on Wednesday, and 15% on Thursday. By age group, the 2030 generation, known as the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), accounted for the largest share at 48%. This was followed by the 4050 generation at 45%, and those aged 60 and over at 6%.

The distinction between off-peak and peak seasons is also becoming blurred. The share of departures in March and April, traditionally known as the off-peak overseas travel season, was 26%, which is a 4 percentage point increase compared to 2019. The monthly departure shares are also relatively evenly distributed: 21% in January, 34% in February, 15% in March, 11% in April, 6% in May, 4% in June, and 10% from July to December.

Travelers preferred nearby destinations. Japan and Southeast Asia, which are good for short trips, occupied the top 10 preferred travel destinations. Osaka, Fukuoka, and Tokyo ranked first to third. These routes are popular due to smooth flight supply, many routes, and suitability for short trips. The 4th to 10th places were Bangkok, Da Nang, Sapporo, Nha Trang, Guam, Taipei, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Gmarket is partnering with Norangpungseon from the 30th of this month to the 12th of next month to run a promotion offering up to 100,000 KRW discount on overseas flight tickets, selling exclusive special-priced tickets for Japan and Southeast Asia routes. Until the 5th, tickets for T’way Air are available at discounted prices, and from the 6th to the 12th, Jeju Air tickets can be purchased cheaply.

A Gmarket official said, “With the increase in overseas flight routes scheduled for this year, the recovery of overseas travel is expected to gain momentum, leading to a significant rise in travel demand. We plan to continuously offer differentiated prices and benefits through discount promotions in collaboration with major travel agencies and airlines.”