Jeju most popular domestic destination during spring flower bloom: trip platform

For the second consecutive year, Jeju Island is the most sought-after domestic destination for the spring flower season, from March 25 to April 30, according to data from global travel platform Trip.com on Wednesday.

This year, the two main cities of Jeju Island swapped places, with Jeju City in the north of island taking the top spot, followed by Seogwipo in the south. Seoul and Busan also remained popular choices, at third and fourth, respectively.

A standout this year is Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, which jumped to fifth place, overtaking Incheon and Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, which had previously held the fifth and sixth spots. Goyang's rise is attributed to various performances and events taking place there during the period, according to the travel platform.

A survey conducted by Trip.com Group in January among travelers from six key Asia-Pacific markets -- South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong -- found that 66 percent of respondents had traveled abroad to see their favorite artists perform or attend events. This highlights the growing trend of entertainment tourism, which seems to be influencing travel patterns.

As for overseas spring flower destinations, Japan remains the most popular choice for South Korean travelers. The country's spring flower season is drawing significant interest, with six Japanese cities — Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Sapporo — dominating the top 10 international travel spots for Korean tourists. Other popular overseas destinations include Shanghai, as well as Nha Trang and Da Nang in Vietnam and Bangkok.

In a global spring travel trend report, Trip.com Group highlighted South Korea as one of the emerging destinations for flower tourism, noting that while Japan remains the main destination for cherry blossom viewing, many international travelers are now looking to explore new locations, with South Korea gaining attention.

Compared to last year’s data, Seoul saw a 61.94 percent increase in bookings, while Jeju City and Gyeongju saw significant growth, with increases of 121 percent and 211.48 percent, respectively. Trip.com also spotlighted Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, known for its cherry blossom festival, as a must-visit destination.

“Looking at spring travel booking trends, it’s clear that in addition to weather and seasonal factors, entertainment-focused travel is becoming a significant trend. We’re analyzing customer demand swiftly and working with more partners to introduce diverse products that cater to these interests,” said a representative from Trip.com Korea.