Korea has emerged as a major destination in the global travel market this spring during the cherry blossom season.
Trip.com announced Wednesday that Seoul ranked first in worldwide flight bookings, surging 83% year-on-year based on reservation data analyzed from February 20 to May 3. Tokyo, Bangkok, Osaka, and Taipei followed in order.
Looking at departure points for foreign tourists visiting Korea, bookings from Japan increased 100% compared to the same period last year, ranking first. China, Vietnam, and Thailand followed. Demand from the Americas, including the United States and Canada, also grew.
"Korea is establishing itself as a global spring flower travel destination beyond Asia," said Hong Jong-min, Trip.com Korea Country Manager. "We will continue to pursue strategies to revitalize regional tourism and expand inbound tourism."
Klook, a booking platform for accommodation, transportation, and activities, also announced Tuesday that foreign demand expanded rapidly, with traffic for cherry blossom-related products increasing month-on-month by region in March based on its data.
According to Klook data, traffic for cherry blossom travel products in March increased 360% in Chungcheong, 182% in Gyeongsang and Busan, 167% in Gyeonggi and Seoul, 125% in Jeju, and 91% in Gangwon compared to the previous month. Traffic primarily consists of searches and bookings.
"Amid overall growing interest in travel to Korea, seasonal demand centered on spring cherry blossoms is clearly emerging," said Lee Jun-ho, Klook Korea Country Manager.
Japan's Cherry Blossom Economy Under Pressure
Meanwhile, global climate change has raised alarms for Japan, which has long enjoyed substantial cherry blossom economic benefits. Last month, Nikkei reported that cherry blossom festival organizers, travel agencies, and event companies across the country are struggling as this year's bloom timing has been delayed compared to normal years.
Observations suggest that cherry blossoms may not bloom in some regions of Japan in the future if current trends continue. According to analysis by Hisanori Ito, professor emeritus at Kyushu University, based on Japan Meteorological Agency simulation data, areas where Yoshino cherry trees reach full bloom, such as Kagoshima and Kochi, will decrease when average temperatures in 2031-2050 rise 2.0-2.5 degrees Celsius compared to 1981-2000. He projected that locations where cherry blossoms fail to reach full bloom will increase further in 2082-2100 and that some parts of southern Kyushu may see no cherry blossom blooming at all.
According to Kansai University estimates, Japan's cherry blossom economic impact this year reached 1.3878 trillion yen (approximately 13.6 trillion won, or $10 billion), up more than 20% from last year. Foreign visitor spending accounted for 26.3% of the total, recording an all-time high. This indicates that cherry blossoms as a tourism product are having an increasingly significant impact on Japan's economy.
