Are Children's Day Rooms Already Fully Booked?... Korean Complex Resort Faces Reservation Battle Among Korean, Chinese, and Japanese Travelers

"Buzzing with May Golden Week Special
Jeju Dream Tower and Jeju Shinhwa World
Room Reservations Up Due to Influx of Chinese Group Tourists
Paradise City and Inspire in Yeongjongdo Also Fully Booked
Strengthened Events Including Domestic Demand for Family Month"

Major domestic integrated resorts are excited about a 'double boom' due to the simultaneous increase in demand from both domestic and foreign visitors during the upcoming golden holiday early next month. The domestic holiday period, which coincides with the weekend and Children's Day, overlaps with Japan's Golden Week (a golden holiday from late April to early May) and China's Labor Day holiday (May 1?5), attracting a surge of tourists from home and abroad.

According to industry sources on the 23rd, the Grand Hyatt Jeju, located within the Jeju Dream Tower integrated resort operated by Lotte Tour Development, has a maximum daily room reservation of 1,480 rooms from May 1 to 5. This fills 92.5% of the total 1,600 rooms. Although the exact reservation ratio between domestic and foreign guests can only be determined after actual stays, the company believes that the reservation rate has significantly increased due to the influx of Chinese group tourists celebrating Labor Day alongside domestic visitors.

According to the Jeju tourism industry, the number of direct international flights to Jeju, which was 127 round-trip flights as of the end of last month, is expected to steadily increase to 164 flights by July due to the rising demand from Chinese group tourists.

Jeju Dream Tower Complex Resort
[Photo by Lotte Tour Development]

The 114,000-ton class international cruise ship Costa Serena. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, on May 1, international cruise ships such as Costa Serena (passenger capacity 5,260) and Adora Magic City (passenger capacity 5,246), and on May 6, Adora Magic City and Blue Dream Melody (passenger capacity 1,582) will each dock two ships per day. In total, seven large cruise ships are scheduled to call during the Labor Day holiday, which is expected to attract many foreign tourists. A Lotte Tour Development official stated, "If this trend continues, room reservations during the Labor Day period are expected to remain above 1,500 rooms."

Jeju Shinhwa World has already booked 90% of its over 2,000 rooms during the same period. The reservation ratio between domestic and foreign guests is approximately 60% and 40%, respectively. Jeju Shinhwa World anticipates a surge in visitors to its foreigner-only casino along with hotel guests and has prepared a special event offering a prize worth $20,000 (about 27.6 million KRW) targeting casino visitors from April 26 to May 1.

A Jeju Shinhwa World representative said, "Although the reservation ratio by nationality has not been specifically tallied, many tourists from not only Japan but also the Chinese-speaking regions such as China and Taiwan are visiting Jeju."

Paradise City, an integrated resort located on Yeongjongdo Island in Incheon, is also experiencing difficulty in securing room reservations for early next month. According to the resort, over 90% of room reservations for early next month have been completed, and reservations for May 3 to 5, which include the weekend and Children's Day, are fully booked. Due to the influence of Japan's Golden Week, the proportion of foreign guests during this period is expected to exceed 50%.

A Paradise City official said, "We plan to hold various events targeting foreign casino VIPs," adding, "In addition to dinner shows for Japanese and Chinese VIP customers, the indoor theme park 'Wonderbox' will host private kids' events for the children of casino and hotel VVIP guests."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Furthermore, the Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort on Yeongjongdo, which officially opened early last month, is also reported to have fully booked rooms for early next month. An Inspire representative said, "Since opening, both domestic and foreign visitors have been steadily coming not only to stay but also to experience the immersive media art and other facilities," adding, "To celebrate Family Month, we will present a family circus show (the original Korean tour of Alice in Wonderland) and have newly established a food court (Oasis Gourmet Village by Glow Seoul) to welcome tourists."