Increase in Passengers at Jeju and Other Regional Airports... Signs of Travel Demand Recovery

Gimpo Airport, Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The domestic travel trend is changing due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers who used to go abroad are turning their attention to domestic destinations, including Jeju Island, leading to an increase in passengers using regional airports.

On the 11th, Interpark Tour compared domestic flight ticketing data from January to April this year with the same period before COVID-19 in 2019. The results showed that demand for flights arriving at regional airports, not just Jeju, has increased. From January to April this year, the ticketing rate for routes arriving at regional airports other than Jeju accounted for 21.3% of all domestic flights, up 14.7 percentage points from 6.6% in 2019. Monthly shares were 24.8% in January, 22.6% in February, 22.5% in March, and 17.3% in April.

The most popular route was 'Gimpo~Jeju,' accounting for 47.2%. This was followed by 'Gimpo~Busan (14.4%)', 'Cheongju~Jeju (8.5%)', 'Busan~Jeju (8.2%)', and 'Daegu~Jeju (5.5%)'. Unlike in 2019, when the top five routes all headed to Jeju, Busan has emerged as a new major destination. Additionally, tourists visiting regional destinations such as Gwangju, Yeosu, Daegu, and Pohang have increased.

Busan is considered a popular destination for travelers because it offers a mix of urban and seaside atmospheres, making it ideal for a city-based "hokangseu" (hotel + vacation). The abundance of tourism infrastructure is also interpreted as a contributing factor.

Furthermore, lower airfares have been identified as a cause for increased demand for regional airports, including Busan. According to Interpark Tour, from January to April, the average airfare for regional flights excluding Jeju was 33,584 KRW, which is 24,633 KRW lower than the 58,217 KRW average in 2019. Improved price accessibility has made it easier for travelers to take domestic flights without financial burden.

Consequently, domestic accommodation bookings (check-ins) are also on the rise. Compared to last year, when COVID-19 was at its peak, the total number of bookings increased by 143%. This is analyzed as a growing demand for cautious domestic travel while adhering to safety and quarantine guidelines amid increasing fatigue from social distancing.

Park Jeonghyun, head of Interpark's Aviation Business Division, said, "As the travel industry, which had been struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, shows signs of recovery this year, the popularity of domestic regional travel is becoming more prominent."

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