The place else might you catch a hyperfast practice from an historic royal palace to a coastal paradise, lose your self in an evening of karaoke and keep in a lodge with 600-year-old underfloor heating? From the irresistible attraction of Okay-pop to the majesty of Joseon dynasty structure and the beautiful surroundings of Jeju Island, South Korea is a singular vacation spot on the bucket listing of vacationers from around the globe.
We’ll check out what makes this important cog within the Asia Pacific (APAC) journey and tourism ecosystem so enigmatic, and take a look at how on-line journey companies (OTAs) are supporting South Korea’s development as a world tourism hub.
An Asia Pacific jewel
South Korea welcomed , the Korean Wave. It refers back to the widespread reputation of South Korean tradition the world over, pushed initially by Okay-pop stars like BTS and Psy however now encompassing South Korean tv, vogue, literature and meals. The pursuit of Hallyu gives vacationers with a wealthy, immersive expertise that connects them with centuries-old traditions whereas indulging in fashionable leisure and gastronomy — a mix that’s uniquely Korean.
One other major draw is the truth that South Korea’s superior know-how integrates seamlessly with its tourism infrastructure. From superfast web speeds to high-speed trains working at as much as 330 kph and futuristic amusement parks like Gyeongnam Masan Robotic Land, South Korea’s dedication to technological innovation gives vacationers a glimpse right into a hyper-modern society and makes it straightforward for them to expertise all the pieces the nation has to supply.
A surge within the reputation of medical tourism additionally contributes to the distinctive make-up of South Korea’s journey sector. The nation is quickly changing into a world hub for cosmetic surgery, skincare, and wellness therapies, attracting sufferers worldwide looking for high quality care coupled with a rejuvenating trip. 2.76 million medical vacationers visited South Korea within the decade from 2009 to 2019 and contributed ₩3 trillion ($2.3 billion) to the financial system.
Supporting tourism from the within out
Small impartial lodging suppliers like conventional hanoks are stars of the South Korean journey scene. Hanoks are Korean visitor homes that first appeared within the 14th century in the course of the Joseon dynasty. Their design is a direct response to the distinct seasons of the Korean Peninsula — they’ve conventional underfloor heating to make harsh winters extra comfy, and a cool wooden ground hallway referred to as daecheong which will increase airflow throughout scorching summers.
Hanoks and different conventional lodging have quite a bit to supply their friends they usually work with OTAs to place themselves on the map. At one finish of the spectrum are native Korean OTAs who’re notably vital supporters of small South Korean suppliers as a result of they perceive the distinctive cultural expectations of South Korean vacationers — greater than half (65%) of OTA bookings in South Korea are with native OTAs. It’s customary, for instance, for lodging to present away complimentary objects like toiletries or vouchers for native bars. Native OTAs plug themselves into these native ecosystems and help the tourism sector from the within.
On the flipside, worldwide OTAs step in to help South Korean SMEs of their efforts to promote to world vacationers. Analysis from Oxford Economics confirms that OTAs assist to draw a better variety of guests to South Korea from worldwide origins. In 2019, 31% of people that booked South Korean lodging by way of OTAs got here from exterior the APAC area in comparison with simply 22% of those that booked by way of different channels.
“Native OTAs are solely accessible in Korean. It is vitally handy to work with worldwide OTAs, because it permits us to attach with worldwide friends regardless of language limitations.” Small lodging at vacationer vacation spot, South Korea
OTAs additionally assist South Korean suppliers to draw a extra numerous vary of worldwide vacationers from locations like Western Europe and the Center East in comparison with the entire market. OTAs act as a trusted middleman for each prospects and lodging, serving to to bridge cultural and linguistic divides and make it simpler for worldwide vacationers to expertise South Korea.
The advantages of utilizing OTAs aren’t simply restricted to bookings made by way of these platforms. Analysis by EY-Parthenon suggests {that a} important variety of prospects who booked to remain in South Korean lodging used OTAs to browse the market earlier than reserving instantly with suppliers.
“[Using OTAs] has at the very least doubled our gross sales. We’re in fact promoting many rooms by way of OTAs however, funnily sufficient, direct bookings have additionally considerably elevated since we began utilizing OTAs.” Medium-sized vacation resort, South Korea
Driving the Korean Wave
South Korea is a significant participant within the APAC tourism scene. Various experiences underpinned by a dedication to technological development are serving to the nation journey the Korean Wave to success. As a small a part of this journey ecosystem, Reserving.com is proud to help South Korean journey companies on their journey.
