"Chicken Delivery at Haeundae?"... Surge in 'Baecationers' Ordering Food at Beaches

Food Delivery Orders Surge Near Vacation Hotspots
Essentials Like Bottled Water and Snacks Also Ordered Through Delivery Apps

This summer vacation season, there has been a noticeable increase in so-called 'Baecance (delivery + vacation)' travelers who order food deliveries near beaches. Whereas traditional vacationers used to head to restaurants for meals after enjoying water activities, these new vacationers now order food right away and dine on the beach or at their accommodations.

According to data released on August 18 by Woowa Brothers, the operator of Baemin (short for Baedal Minjok), when comparing delivery order numbers from before the peak summer vacation period (June 22 to July 5) to those during the peak vacation season (July 27 to August 9), there was a significant surge in food delivery orders near major beaches nationwide.

Seopi Beach, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do. Seopi Beach

The region with the sharpest increase was Seopi Beach in Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do, which has become a major tourist hotspot as a surfing destination. Food delivery orders in this area during the peak season surged by 149.9% compared to before the vacation period. This trend is attributed to more people ordering food for delivery to the beach or their accommodations after enjoying water activities such as swimming, surfing, and snorkeling.

Seopi Beach is not only popular among tourists in their 20s and 30s, who are the primary users of food delivery apps, but has also gained word-of-mouth popularity as a surfing destination. This has led to the pronounced increase in orders during the vacation season.

Elsewhere, food delivery orders near Daecheon Beach in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, increased by 105.3%, while those near Eulwangni Beach on Yeongjongdo, Incheon, rose by 43.3%. Orders near Hyeopjae Beach in Hallim-eup, Jeju, increased by 33.2%. Other locations, such as Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon-do, and Haeundae Beach in Haeundae-gu, Busan, saw increases of 25.2% and 9.0%, respectively.

The most popular menu items were chicken, as well as cafe and dessert options. Chicken orders near Seopi Beach jumped by 163.0%. Orders for pork cutlet and Japanese cuisine, as well as Korean street food, rose by 109.8% and 107.4%, respectively, all showing triple-digit growth rates. Notably, in Busan's Haeundae area, orders through Baemin’s B Mart delivery grocery service increased by 5%, reflecting a trend in which vacationers now opt to procure necessities like bottled water and snacks directly at their destination, rather than preparing in advance.

Woowa Brothers stated, "As more 'Baecance' travelers choose to conveniently handle their meals via smartphone apps even while on holiday, delivery orders near beaches have soared. There is a new trend among tourists to spend leisurely time at accommodations near the beach while enjoying a diverse range of menu items."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.