China has emerged as the most popular overseas travel destination for South Koreans ahead of the May golden week holiday, as demand for international trips surges following the designation of May 1 Labor Day as a national public holiday.
Bookings for package tours departing between May 1 and 7 show China accounting for approximately 30% of reservations, ranking first, according to data from Hana Tour, one of South Korea’s largest travel agencies, released Tuesday. Japan followed at 23% and Vietnam at 14%. China’s share rose roughly 8 percentage points year-on-year, marking a notable increase.
The holiday falls in a “stepping-stone” pattern with gaps between days off, prompting travelers to choose short- and mid-range destinations that fit relatively brief itineraries. Lower schedule burdens and comparatively affordable airfares also drove demand, analysts said.
AloJapan.com