“It Wasn’t Vietnam”... Average Travel Cost 1.33 Million Won, Japan Tops Chuseok Holiday Destinations

Global travel app Skyscanner survey of Korean travelers

56% of respondents plan trips during the ten-day holiday

Strong demand for nearby destinations like Japan, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan

Average travel budget down by 250,000 won fr

As more people are planning overseas trips by taking advantage of the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which could last up to about ten days, relatively nearby travel destinations such as Japan and Vietnam are attracting attention. The expected cost per traveler is around 1.33 million won, a slight decrease from the previous year, indicating that many travelers are prioritizing efficiency.

Travelers heading abroad are checking their flight schedules at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport Terminal 1. Photo by Jojong Jun

According to a survey conducted by global travel application Skyscanner of 1,000 Korean travelers, 56% of respondents said they plan to travel during this year's Chuseok holiday. In fact, the number of travel-related searches during this year's Chuseok holiday has increased by 92.4% compared to last year.

This year, through the use of annual leave and holidays around Chuseok, people can secure about ten days off. Respondents plan to take an average of 2.9 days of personal leave around Chuseok, making it possible to have up to 8 consecutive days of vacation. The actual planned travel duration, however, was found to be an average of 3.3 days.

Among preferred destinations, Tokyo, Japan ranked first at 17.8%. This was followed by Nha Trang, Vietnam (13.9%), Sapporo, Japan (13.8%), Shanghai, China (10.2%), Taipei, Taiwan (9.0%), Da Nang, Vietnam (7.4%), Sydney, Australia (7.3%), Bangkok, Thailand (7.0%), Phu Quoc, Vietnam (6.9%), and Osaka, Japan (6.7%). Most of the top 10 destinations are relatively close to Korea.

This trend is also reflected in the package tour bookings of major outbound travel agencies. At Kyowon Tour's TraveliZ, Japan accounted for 32.8% of Chuseok product bookings, ranking first, followed by China at 25.4%. At Yellow Balloon, Shanghai, China had the highest share at 37.1%, followed by Japan (Hokkaido) at 30.5%. Other destinations included Vietnam (Da Nang) at 9.4%, Taiwan at 7.4%, North America (East Coast/U.S. and Canada) at 5.5%, and Western Europe at 5.2%.

Meanwhile, according to Skyscanner's survey, the average expected budget per person for a Chuseok holiday trip is about 1.33 million won, down by 250,000 won from 1.58 million won compared to the same period last year. Respondents cited "cost" (25%) as the most important factor when planning their Chuseok trips, and for ways to save money, "choosing destinations with lower prices" (35%) was the top consideration.

An industry insider said, "Due to the short holidays, high exchange rates, and inflation, travelers are increasingly favoring nearby destinations with shorter travel distances and competitive pricing." The insider added, "This reflects the practical travel tendencies of those seeking to maximize their time at the destination with short flight times and save on travel expenses by taking advantage of comparatively lower local costs."

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