South Korea’s top travel agency Hanatour Service Inc. saw a dramatic 661% increase in package tourists in June from the previous year, recording approximately 95,000 travelers.
Hanatour reported a sustained recovery trend despite the second quarter typically being off-peak in the travel industry. The number of package tourists in May and June rose by 9% and 3% respectively from each preceding month.
Southeast Asia held the largest regional share of travelers at 45.1%, followed by Japan (28.8%), Europe (12.6%), China (8.1%), the South Pacific (3.2%), and the Americas (2.2%). The most popular countries for travel were Japan, Vietnam, and China.
Significantly, the number of outbound tourists to China surged by about 150% in June month-on-month, following the normalization of group visa issuance in May.
Future reservations for July and August show a similar regional trend to June, with Southeast Asia, Japan, Europe, and China ranking high. Compared to June, there has been an increase in bookings for cooler-climate destinations such as Mongolia, Northern Europe, and Hokkaido, signaling a wider range of travel preferences amid the summer heat.
"A rising demand for travel in what's traditionally considered an off-peak quarter shows a significant recovery in the sector," a Hanatour source said. This source also expressed optimism for a return to normal overseas travel demand, attributing the revival to the smooth issuance of group visas, particularly in China.