Domestic travel demand in South Korea has nearly doubled compared to the same period in 2024, ahead of the golden holiday period from May 1 to 6, according to the global travel platform Trip.com.
Bookings for flights, accommodations and tours on its platform surged by 189 percent on-year for the upcoming holiday period. Hotel reservations soared 354 percent, the data showed.
Trip.com attributed the surge in travel activity to the possibility of a six-day break, depending on how workers use their paid leave, fueling a spike in holiday plans.
Among domestic travelers, Jeju maintained its No. 1 spot for a second consecutive year as the most popular destination; Busan climbed two places from last year to rank No. 2. While rankings saw minor adjustments, the majority of bookings centered on traditionally popular Korean travel spots. Notably, Chuncheon entered the top 10 domestic destinations for the first time, securing the No. 10 spot.
Busan has also gained traction with international tourists. While Seoul remained the most visited city by foreign tourists, Busan moved up to No. 2, overtaking Jeju, which fell to No. 3. Gyeongju rose to No. 6 from No. 8, and Gangneung moved to No. 8 from No. 10. Cities including Goyang, Yeosu and Suwon newly entered the top 10 destinations among foreign travelers.
Trip.com noted that interest in Korean travel is spreading beyond the capital and major cities, reflecting a nationwide trend in tourism.
The company also reported a double-digit increase in domestic train bookings on its platform, attributing the growth to improved accessibility on its in-app train ticket booking feature. The Seoul-Busan, Seoul–Gangneung and Seoul–Gyeongju routes were the most frequently used.
K-content continued to drive demand in the tours and tickets segment. Events such as the “Hiphopplaya Festival 2025,” “Wild Wild After Party” and “Myeongdong Nanta” ranked among the top five attractions for international visitors. Busan’s rising popularity also boosted ticket sales for local experiences, including Haeundae Blueline Park and the Songdo Marine Cable Car, which ranked No. 3 and No. 8, respectively.
“The May golden holiday overlaps with public holidays in countries like Japan and China, highlighting growing interest in Korea from both domestic and international travelers,” said Hong Jong-min, general manager of Trip.com Korea.
yoohong@heraldcorp.com
