Japan Maintains Strong Popularity, Vietnam Also Shows Traditional Strength
Taiwan and the United States Follow, Emerging as Rising Destinations
With the upcoming October holiday period, which will last up to ten days, demand for overseas travel is surging. While Japan remains a traditional favorite destination, Taiwan and the United States are emerging as new preferred travel spots.
On September 19, travel platform Nol Universe announced that the number of overseas flight bookings during the holiday period had increased by 37% compared to the same period last year. This analysis is based on booking data from its platforms-NOL, NOL Interpark Tour, and Triple-for stays and usage between October 3 and October 12.
This year as well, Japan maintained its position as a top travel destination. The Osaka, Fukuoka, and Narita (Tokyo) routes swept the top three spots for flight bookings. Japan also ranked first in accommodation and transportation product bookings, reaffirming its enduring popularity.
Citizens standing in line at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Photo by Yonhap News
Vietnam also showed strong performance, ranking second. Five-day package tours to Danang and Hoi An, as well as Phu Quoc, were the most frequently booked. Notably, the "sleeping bus" connecting Hanoi and Sapa ranked second in the tour activity category, highlighting more segmented travel patterns.
Taiwan and the United States have emerged as rising stars. Taiwan ranked third in overseas accommodation bookings, gaining popularity as a nearby destination, and flight bookings to Taipei surged by 78% year-on-year. The United States also saw a 2.3-fold increase in accommodation bookings, ranking fourth among overseas accommodation reservations.
In addition, the number of package bookings for the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe increased by 105% and 809%, respectively, indicating a marked recovery in demand for long-haul travel.
Domestic accommodation bookings also rose by 65% compared to last year's holiday period. Gangwon Province maintained its lead, accounting for 18% of all bookings. Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do saw increases of 131% and 124%, respectively, ranking first and second in growth rate. Notably, bookings for camping, caravans, and glamping surged by 131%, confirming a growing preference for nature-based stays and family-oriented experiential and healing travel over simple lodging.
A Nol Universe representative explained, "While traditional popular destinations like Japan and Vietnam remain strong, new areas such as Taiwan and the United States are rapidly emerging. In Korea, nature-friendly accommodations are gaining popularity, and the diversification of consumer preferences is a key trend in travel this year."
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