The number of tourists visiting Jeju Island during the bridge holiday period, which includes Children's Day, is expected to exceed 260,000. Analysts say the shift from overseas to domestic travel has become pronounced as high oil prices and exchange rate burdens weigh on consumers.
The Jeju Tourism Association announced on Wednesday that approximately 267,000 visitors are expected to arrive in Jeju during the six-day period from April 30 to May 5. This represents a 2.7% increase from the same period last year. By date, the figures are 44,000 on April 30, 53,000 on May 1, 46,000 on May 2, 48,000 on May 3, 38,000 on May 4 and 38,000 on May 5.
While the number of flights increased slightly, the supply of seats actually decreased. During this period, 1,313 domestic flights will operate, but seat capacity has fallen 1% from a year earlier. Nevertheless, the average boarding rate is expected to reach 94.4%, meaning flights will effectively be fully booked. With supply falling short of travel demand, competition to secure airline tickets is intensifying.
International Flights Surge 28%… Shift Toward "Short, Nearby Travel"
A particularly notable development is the increase in international flight passengers. International travelers to and from Jeju are expected to reach approximately 29,600, up 28.6% from last year. International flights are also expanding by more than 18%, continuing their recovery.
In contrast, ship passengers are declining. Of the total arrivals, approximately 44,300 are expected to travel by ship, down 2.5% year-on-year. Cruise tourism, however, is increasing, with seven cruise ships scheduled to arrive carrying approximately 17,000 visitors to Jeju.
These changes reflect recent shifts in travel consumption patterns. As economic slowdown, rising prices and exchange rate burdens compound, travelers are increasingly choosing short-term, nearby trips over long-distance, extended travel. According to Hankook Research's "Travel Plans for the First Half of 2026" survey, 26% of respondents who planned domestic vacation travel in the first half of this year chose May. However, the average domestic vacation travel period was 3.8 days, shorter than overseas vacation travel, which averaged 6.6 days.
"Daily boarding rates and visitor numbers may fluctuate due to weather conditions and same-day bookings," the Jeju Tourism Association said.
