Demand for premium mid-to-long-term travel is rising as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches.
According to global travel platform Trip.com on January 9, approximately 65% of Korean travelers chose mid-to-long-term trips during this year's Lunar New Year holiday period. Itineraries of 4-7 days accounted for 43% of total bookings, while 8-14 day trips comprised 22%.
As travel durations lengthened, destination choices diversified. For outbound travel, short-haul destinations including Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam maintained top rankings, while long-haul destinations such as the United States, Spain, and Australia also gained popularity.
More travelers opted for premium options in flights and accommodations. First-class flight bookings increased 83% year-over-year, while business-class bookings rose 38%. In the accommodation sector, five-star hotel bookings grew 59% compared to the previous year. In major destinations including Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, five-star hotels accounted for more than half of total bookings. Upper-tier accommodations, including four-star properties, represented approximately 75% of reservations.
Inbound demand for Korea around the Lunar New Year holiday also increased. According to Trip.com booking data, flight reservations to Korea during the holiday period surged approximately 88% year-over-year. High booking rates for Korea-bound flights were observed not only from Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, but also from Japan, Australia, and the United States.
By origin, routes from Kaohsiung, Taiwan recorded the highest booking growth rate. In Japan, demand previously concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka spread to major cities including Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Okinawa. Notable increases in Korea-bound bookings were also observed from Poland, Canada, and Uzbekistan.
Chinese visitors to Korea are expected to increase significantly this Lunar New Year. According to market research firm China Trading Desk, up to 250,000 Chinese tourists are projected to visit Korea during the Spring Festival holiday period.