Transaction Volume for Optical Products Surges by 1,608%
Price, Design, and Speed Drive Popularity
Korean optical shops are emerging as a new must-visit destination among foreign tourists. The so-called "K-Optical Tour," which boasts fast production times, affordable prices, and stylish designs, is establishing itself as a new trend following beauty and medical tourism.
'K-Optical' Craze Following Beauty and Medical Tourism
According to Creatrip, a leading inbound tourism platform in Korea, the transaction volume for optical shop products surged by approximately 1,608% from June to October this year compared to the same period last year. This achievement comes less than a year after introducing optical shop-related products.
The nationalities of customers booking optical shop products through Creatrip were diverse, including Asia, North America, and Europe. Among them, the United States accounted for about 49% of all reservations, ranking first, followed by Taiwan at 26% and Germany at 9%.
Optical shop products located near tourist attractions also had a high rate of being booked together with other tourism products. For example, at an optical shop in Myeong-dong, about 44% of foreign customers booked it along with other products. This indicates that these shops are becoming major tourist destinations, not just places for shopping.
Same-Day Pickup, Affordable Prices, and Diverse Designs Drive Popularity
The key factors driving popularity are speed and price. While it may take several days to get glasses made in their home countries, in Korea, the entire process from eye examination to pickup can be completed in just 30 minutes to an hour. Prices are also lower than in their home countries, allowing customers to purchase high-quality products at reasonable prices.
Korean eyewear designs that reflect fashion trends are another reason for their popularity. Foreign tourists perceive glasses not just as vision aids but as fashion items, and they are able to experience a variety of styles that are hard to find in their own countries. In short, Korean optical shops offer the perfect combination of speed, price, and design.
To further expand the "K-Optical Tour," Creatrip plans to continuously increase its partner optical shops and upgrade its system to enhance booking convenience. Lim Hyemin, CEO of Creatrip, stated, "Visiting optical shops has become a unique Korean travel experience for foreigners," adding, "We will leverage Korea’s strengths to ensure that optical shops become an essential tourist destination, following beauty and medical tourism."
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