Travel
Surge in travel plans for extended Korea’s Chuseok holiday as resorts and flights fill up
haps magazine korea
August 27, 2024
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With the upcoming Chuseok holiday offering a potential nine-day break next month, a growing number of travelers are making plans for domestic and international trips.
The Chuseok holiday officially runs from September 14th to 18th, but by taking just two additional days off on the 19th and 20th, many are extending their break to include the weekends, creating a rare nine-day vacation.
According to industry reports, resorts in popular domestic tourist destinations, including Busan, are rapidly filling up.
Chosun Hotel & Resort has reported that reservations for both Westin Chosun Busan and Grand Chosun Busan have already exceeded an 85% occupancy rate for the Chuseok period, with demand expected to increase further as the holiday nears.
Lotte Signiel Busan has also reached an 80% reservation rate for the same period.
Hanwha Hotels & Resorts has announced that its major locations nationwide, including Haeundae in Busan, are fully booked from September 14th to 17th.
Similarly, Seorak Sorano and Yongin Besancon resorts are nearly sold out, with reservation rates at 99% and 96%, respectively. Sono Hotels & Resorts has reported that its properties are averaging over 90% in reservations, with some locations, such as Sono Moon Haeundae, already fully booked.
An industry insider explained, “During Chuseok, there is typically high demand for family trips, which leads to resorts filling up before hotels. We expect many families to plan domestic trips during this extended holiday.”
International travel bookings are also on the rise, particularly for short-haul destinations.
Hana Tour reported a 10% increase in overseas travel bookings for departures between September 13th and 15th compared to the first three days of last year’s Chuseok holiday.
Southeast Asia leads the preferences at 48%, followed by Japan (24%), China (15%), and Europe (11%).
Yellow Balloon Travel has noted a 20% increase in bookings for travel products departing between September 13th and 15th compared to last year’s Chuseok period.
Reservations for Japan have surged by 80%, and bookings for China have doubled. Travel to Southeast Asian destinations like the Philippines and Vietnam has also seen significant growth, with increases of 166% and 40%, respectively.
In response to the surge in travel plans, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will launch the “Korea Accommodation Sale Festa” today, offering 200,000 discount coupons for accommodations in non-metropolitan areas.
The discounts, which range from 20,000 to 30,000 won depending on the price of the accommodation, aim to encourage travel outside of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon.
A travel industry expert advises, “With many people planning to take advantage of the extended Chuseok break, it’s likely to be crowded. It’s wise to book your accommodations and transportation as early as possible.”