SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - As Chuseok, one of the country's largest holidays of the year, is set to begin later this week, many South Koreans are traveling abroad en masse, opting trips over the traditional ritual of visiting their ancestral graves, while rising numbers of foreign tourists here are raising expectations for a boost to the domestic travel industry.
According to global online travel platform Trip.com, the number of South Koreans traveling overseas during the weeklong Chuseok holiday has surged by about 80 percent, compared to last year. Notably, 62 percent of flight bookings are for short-haul destinations such as Japan and Southeast Asia.
Foreign arrivals in Seoul have also risen sharply. During China's lengthy "Golden Week" period from Sept. 27 to Oct. 8, travelers from Japan, Taiwan, Viet Nam, and China led in bookings to South Korea.
The number of visitors from Australia and Indonesia increased by 84 percent and 63 percent, respectively, while Canada recorded a triple-digit increase, indicating South Korea's growing appeal beyond Asia.
This trend reflects South Korea's emergence as a global tourist destination, attracting long-haul travelers.
In Trip.com's latest rankings of the world's top tourist destinations, Seoul ranked third and Jeju tenth, with Seoul recognized for its K-pop, shopping, and nightlife, and Jeju noted for its natural beauty and leisure activities.
Hong Jong-min, Trip.com's country manager, said, "The global popularity of Seoul and Jeju is a testament to South Korea's growing appeal as a destination for travelers worldwide."
* This article, published by Economic Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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