Foreign tourists are snapping up banana-flavored milk and transit cards at convenience stores as soon as they arrive at Incheon International Airport, industry data showed. Banana milk has become a top seller not only at the airport but also at convenience stores near major tourist attractions frequented by visitors.
The best-selling item at nine convenience stores near Incheon Airport's arrival hall between January and the 17th of this month was the T-money Travel Card, according to convenience store chain CU. Binggrae's banana-flavored milk ranked second, followed by Lotte's Icis water, Dubai-style chewy cookies and domestic-use power adapters.
At the departure hall, banana milk had an even stronger presence. It was the top-selling item at 10 CU stores around Incheon Airport's departure hall. Icis water, Dubai-style chewy cookies, Binggrae's strawberry-flavored milk and Orion's Vico&V also ranked among the top sellers.
Sales of these items rose rapidly across all CU stores at Incheon Airport as well. Banana milk sales climbed about 43.1% from a year earlier, while revenue from the T-money Travel Card surged 831.7%.
The popularity of banana milk appears to owe partly to an unusual way of drinking it that has spread through social media. Videos of a "banana milk latte" — made by buying banana milk, an Americano and ice at airport convenience stores and mixing them together — have drawn attention among foreign tourists. Word has spread among overseas visitors that it is a drink to try at least once during a trip to Korea.
Banana milk is selling briskly at GS25 stores in Incheon Airport as well. At one of the four stores operated at the airport, an average of 1,200 units are sold per day. GS25 has set up a dedicated display in the center of its stores and increased its stock more than fivefold from previous levels to meet demand.
Sales of the T-money Travel Card are also surging as the number of independent foreign travelers grows. The card can be used on public transportation nationwide, and holders can also receive shopping, cultural and tourism benefits at partner merchants in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Busan. Offering both transit and tourism perks in one card, it is becoming a must-have item for foreign travelers.
The hotel industry is also using the T-money Travel Card to target foreign tourists. Josun Hotels & Resorts recently launched room packages that provide the card to foreign guests staying at its hotels in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan and Jeju.
