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Korea Now a Tourism 'Superpower' |
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Written by PATA Communications
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Thursday, 09 February 2006 |
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Korea Now a Tourism 'Superpower'02 Feb 06
The
number of Koreans travelling abroad passed the 10 million mark for the
first time in 2005, growing at a rate of 14.2% for the year. The upturn
helped drive arrivals figures to new heights in popular Korean
destinations such as China (PRC), Japan and the USA.
The outbound surge was particularly strong in the Korean summer with
more than one million Koreans travelling abroad in both July and
August, the country's peak outbound season.
The 2005 statistics just released from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Korea Tourism Organization show that:-
* The most popular destination regions were Asia (72.6%), the Americas (8.1%), Europe (5.8%), and the Pacific (4.5%).
* China (PRC) and Japan were the most popular countries, attracting
2.96 million and 1.74 million Koreans respectively. China (PRC) and
Japan together captured 51.1% of total Korean outbound.
* In Europe, Germany and the UK were first and second most popular destinations with 141,606 and 111,845 arrivals respectively.
* Travel for pleasure accounted for 60% of Koreans' trips (business 22.5%).
* The pleasure travel category accounted for 77% of all Koreans' trips
to the Pacific; 62% of all trips to Asia; 51.8% of all trips to Europe;
and 38% of all trips to the Americas.
* More than half (52.4%) were aged 40 years or younger, with a
significant number (29.1%) aged 30 years or younger. Koreans over 60
years old only accounted for 9.3% of the total.
* Air was easily the most preferred mode of travel with Seoul's Incheon airport capturing 80.9% of all outbound movements.
Korea's inbound tourism sector is also booming, with 6.02 million
arrivals in 2005, up 3.5% on 2004 and passing the six million mark for
the first time.
"The Korean outbound tourism miracle has been the product of dramatic,
and at the time, painful structural reform in the economy following
financial collapse in '97-98," said PATA Director-Strategic
Intelligence Mr John Koldowski. "Over time, as the Korean people's
spending power strengthened, so did their resolve to spend it on
overseas experiences, especially in Asia."
Mr Koldowski cited Korea as a strong example of a country that operates
by the principle of 'total tourism' -- a belief that inbound, outbound
and domestic tourism delivers a range of socio-cultural benefits, as
well as an economic multiplier effect across many sectors of society.
"For many years Korea had a reputation for isolation -- the 'hermit'
kingdom, as it was known. Now Korea's culture, consumption patterns and
investments are an integral part of the Asia Pacific success story," he
said.
Editor's notes
1) PATA graphics showing monthly outbound travel from Korea in 2005 can
be downloaded at:
www.PATA.org/patasite/fileadmin/docs/statistics/PR060201_KoreaData.xls
2) "Korea" in this release refers to The Republic of Korea, also known informally as 'South Korea'. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 February 2006 )
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