This year's Chuseok holiday sees preference for short-distance destinations like Japan and China in overseas travel... analysis by Kyowon Tour

*This content was translated by AI.

Kyowon Tour analyzed that during this year's Chuseok holiday, demand for overseas travel is concentrated on short-distance destinations such as Japan and China, while long-distance destinations continue to show steady trends with Europe maintaining consistent popularity.

According to an analysis of reservation data from Kyowon Tour Travel Guide covering the day before the Chuseok holiday (September 23) through the final day of the holiday (September 27), the overseas travel trends for this year's Chuseok holiday can be summarized as: ▲Preference for short-distance destinations like Japan and China, ▲Slowing demand in Southeast Asia, and ▲Continued preference for Europe, the company announced on the 3rd.

This year's Chuseok holiday runs from September 24 to 27, spanning four days. Compared to last year's so-called "golden holiday," the shorter duration has led to demand concentrating on short-distance destinations with less travel burden. With high exchange rates and inflation increasing travel cost burdens, and fuel surcharges remaining at historically high levels, short-distance destinations like Japan and China have emerged as alternatives.

Looking at destination preferences, Japan accounted for 32.8% of all reservations, ranking first. This is attributed to increased demand for second trips, expanded flight routes, and strengthened small-town tour packages driving overall demand. In particular, the recent weakness of the yen has allowed travelers to enjoy trips at relatively reasonable costs, contributing to rising preference. Notably, high reservation rates for small towns such as Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Wakayama, and Tsushima indicate that Japanese travel demand is diversifying beyond major cities.

China ranked second with 25.4% of reservations. Scenic spot-centered packages including Mount Taihang, Baekdu Mountain, and Zhangjiajie accounted for 72.9% of all China reservations, reflecting a significant share. This is interpreted as reflecting continued preference among middle-aged and older customers for these specific packages.

While short-distance destinations dominate the top rankings, Northern Europe (8.8%), Western Europe (7.2%), and Southern Europe (4.5%) secured positions 3 through 5 respectively. This trend is analyzed as resulting from travelers extending their holidays with leave days to plan long-distance trips, leading to increased preference for European travel.

Southeast Asia, which has traditionally shown strong performance during holiday periods and vacation seasons, experienced slowing demand, creating a contrasting trend. Both Vietnam and Thailand fell outside the top five. Since Southeast Asia typically favors itineraries of five days or longer, the short holiday period creates relatively high scheduling burdens, compounded by rising local prices increasing travel costs.

Considering increased travel cost burdens, Kyowon Tour offers confirmed departure packages for the Chuseok holiday at reasonable prices, ranging from short-distance to long-distance destinations.

The "Taiwan Best-Seller 4-Day" package is designed to allow travelers to enjoy both major tourist attractions and gourmet experiences. It includes visits to Taipei 101 Observatory, Yeliu Geological Park, Spun, Jiufen, and Raohe Street Night Market, along with meals at restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide and Bib Gourmand selections, enhancing the culinary experience.

There are also packages targeting those planning long-distance travel. The "Eastern European Cultural Exploration 9-Day" tour utilizes Asiana Airlines' direct flight route from Incheon to Frankfurt, visiting key tourist sites in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Travelers can enjoy beautiful city nightscapes through night tours in Prague and Budapest.

A Kyowon Tour representative stated, "Due to the short holiday period and impacts from high exchange rates and inflation, preference is increasing for short-distance destinations that offer shorter travel distances and price competitiveness." They added, "Through our Chuseok holiday departure packages, we will provide customers planning holiday trips with a wide range of options."

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*This content was translated by AI.