This year, it seems that travel agency offerings are changing. While they focused on selling travel packages to Japan until last year, this year the focus is on China. Hanatour and Modetour Network are shifting their strategy towards developing travel products for China.
According to the distribution industry on the 13th, recent travel agencies are strengthening their China package tour products. Hanatour has launched packages that include not only famous travel destinations like Shanghai and Qingdao but also new destinations, such as the orange-hued 'Gamseondae Gorge' and the 'Tianzhou (Qinzhou)' where clouds linger. Modetour Network has also created new areas for unique travel destinations, expanding the selection of China package tour products. Destinations like 'Inner Mongolia,' where visitors can see vast grasslands and deserts, have been organized.
This is based on the expectation that tourism demand for China will increase rather than for Japan. This is also reflected in the numbers. Last year, about 8,817,800 Korean tourists visited Japan, which marked a historic high, but signs of change began emerging from February this year. According to Hanatour, the proportion of tourism to Japan in February was 23.7%, down 5.2 percentage points from January (28.9%). Compared to a year ago, it has decreased by 4.2 percentage points. Modetour Network also indicated that the proportion of travel to Japan in February (20.1%) has decreased by about 2 percentage points compared to February of last year (22%).
Many analyze that this is a result of the rise in the won against the Japanese yen. Recent foreign exchange trends show that the rate has reached around 1,000 won per 100 yen. A representative from a travel agency noted, "There was a time when the exchange rate was around 900 won per 100 yen, leading to an increase in demand for travel to Japan," and added, "Since many traveled to Japan last year and the impact of the exchange rate has made prices seem less appealing, it seems people are turning their eyes towards other tourist destinations."
In contrast, the number of people looking to travel to China is increasing. According to the Ministry of Justice, the number of citizens departing to China from November of last year to January of this year was 647,901, an increase of 60.6% compared to the same period last year (403,470). Travel agencies report that the ability to travel without a visa has been a significant reason for the increase in travel to China.
According to a representative from Hanatour, "As the burden of visa issuance expenses, which previously cost over 100,000 won per person, has decreased due to the visa-free policy, reservations for destinations like Shanghai and Qingdao, which are mainly frequented by the younger generation, are rapidly increasing."
The changing image of traveling to China is also contributing to the increase in travelers. Until now, there was a strong perception that China was primarily a package travel destination for middle-aged tourists due to highlights like the picturesque Zhangjiajie, the Great Wall, and Baekdu Mountain.
However, recently, China is emerging as a destination for weekend trips, with people heading out on Friday nights. Thanks to travel reviews that suggest affordable and fun trips, posts highlighting beautiful photo spots against the backdrop of the Dongbang Oriental Pearl Tower and "5 must-see places in Shanghai that people don't know well" have been increasing. This is reflected in the growing number of hashtags like "China for a weekend getaway" or "travel to China after work on Friday" on social media.
A representative from a travel agency stated, "Looking at the sales trends of flights to China, it appears that the number of independent travelers is also increasing," and added, "Using Papago to resolve language issues, making payments via Alipay or WeChat, and utilizing Didi Chuxing for taxi services have effectively removed significant barriers to independent travel."