"This Year, Overseas Remains Uncertain"…Luxury Hotels Engage in 'Honeymoon Competition'

Honeymoon in Jeju Instead of Overseas Again This Year
Luxury Hotels Say "Welcome Newlyweds"
Lotte Hotel Offers 'Overseas Stay Voucher After 1 Year'
Attracting Customers with Bold Packages
Competition Among Jeju 5-Star Hotels Heats Up

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Following last year, as the resumption of overseas travel remains difficult due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, luxury hotels in Jeju are focusing on attracting customers by offering various benefits targeting honeymooners.

◆Benefits Abroad Equivalent to Domestic Stay

On the 23rd, Lotte Hotel launched a package offering newlywed couples a ‘Lotte Hotel overseas stay voucher valid one year later.’ Newlyweds who spend their honeymoon at a domestic Lotte Hotel this year can enjoy a free stay at an overseas Lotte Hotel around their first wedding anniversary next year. Guests can stay for free at one of five overseas chain locations including Lotte Hotel Guam, Vladivostok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Lotte Arai Resort. The voucher is valid for three months, covering the same month as the package purchase and one month before and after, allowing stays equivalent to the number of nights spent at the domestic hotel. Lotte Hotel explained, “This package was launched to relieve the frustration of newlyweds restricted from overseas honeymoons by leveraging the strengths of our global hotel group.”

◆Domestic Newlyweds Are the Main Support

The reason such bold honeymoon packages are being released is that with the sharp decline in overseas travelers, hotels have no choice but to focus on attracting ‘domestic travelers’ to a limited extent. According to the Jeju Tourism Association, last year, domestic tourists who arrived in Jeju numbered 10,023,678, accounting for 97.92% of the total 10,236,445 visitors.

The industry expects demand for honeymoons in Jeju to increase further this year. According to Statistics Korea, the number of marriages (based on marriage registrations) last year was 214,000, down 10.7% (26,000) from the previous year. Although the younger generation is marrying less overall, the industry analyzes that wedding postponements due to COVID-19 had a greater impact. For soon-to-be newlyweds who can no longer delay their weddings, Jeju is undoubtedly the top choice for their honeymoon.

◆Intensified Competition Among Luxury Hotels

Despite the tourism industry being hit hard by COVID-19, the number of 5-star hotels in Jeju has actually increased, with 10 located in Seogwipo City and 5 in Jeju City. Following the opening of the Grand Hyatt Jeju at the end of last year, boasting ‘all-suite rooms’ at the Jeju Dream Tower complex resort, the Grand Chosun Jeju (newly ungraded) opened earlier this year, intensifying competition. These hotels are competing to attract customers by offering luxurious new facilities, dining, and various honeymoon gifts. A representative from Grand Chosun Jeju stated, “Sales of honeymoon-exclusive products this month have more than doubled compared to January, and nearly 40% of customers purchasing the new Hill Suite exclusive products are honeymooners.”

An industry insider commented, “With the sharp decline in overseas tourists, hotels must capture domestic tourists, especially honeymoon demand which involves significant spending at once, to survive. Competition is expected to become even fiercer this year.”

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