What draws travelers to a place to stay in South Korea is shifting. Rather than the facilities inside a room, activities available nearby — golf courses, hot springs and water parks — are emerging as the main driver of lodging demand.
Total overnight stays in the country rose 5.1% over the past three years, the Korea Tourism Organization said on the 2nd, based on an analysis of mobile carrier, credit card and lodging reservation data from its Korea Tourism Data Lab.
The increase was far sharper among foreign visitors. Overnight stays by foreigners climbed 29.0% during the period, compared with just 1.9% for domestic travelers — a growth rate roughly 15 times higher. By region, Incheon had the highest share of foreign stays at 27.3%, followed by Seoul at 26.3%, Jeju at 25.9% and Busan at 20.7%.
The criteria travelers use to pick accommodations have also changed. Demand has shifted toward properties linked to leisure and recreation options in the surrounding area rather than amenities confined to the room itself.
Reservations at golf-themed accommodations jumped 199.3% over the past three years compared with earlier years. Stays tied to hot springs rose 98.9%, and those tied to water parks gained 56.5%. Demand fell, by contrast, for property types built around in-house facilities as their main selling point, such as pool villas.
Pyeongchang in Gangwon Province posted the largest regional increase in lodging demand at 116.9%. Andong in North Gyeongsang Province followed at 106.4%, and Gijang County in Busan at 78.5%.
Concerts also proved to be a significant factor. Lodging reservations during weeks with major performances ran 16.4% higher than during periods without them. During K-pop concerts in particular, the growth rate in reservations by foreign visitors was 6.1 times that of domestic travelers, indicating that performance content substantially lifts foreign tourists' willingness to extend their stay.
An official at the Korea Tourism Organization said the country needs to "organically connect performances, sports and leisure facilities with lodging, transportation and local commercial districts, and improve travel convenience to create a distinct 'reason for an overnight stay' in each region."
