Despite Omicron Spread, People Still Go on 'Bokuk Travel'

Suppressed Travel Desires Erupt
Major Home Shopping Product Reservations Surge
Focus on Domestic Travel Product Sales

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Despite the daily record-breaking number of confirmed COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant surge, suppressed travel sentiment is exploding, leading to a rapid increase in related bookings.

According to Lotte Homeshopping on the 18th, the special sale of the "No-Quarantine Saipan Travel" package, held in partnership with Kyowon KRT on the 2nd, recorded a high volume of 6,700 advance reservation calls within just one hour. Saipan is the only travel destination where travelers can visit without mandatory quarantine between the two countries.

At the end of last year, the home shopping industry launched numerous overseas travel products in line with the phased return to normal life (With COVID-19). However, due to the rapid increase in new confirmed cases caused by the Omicron variant, these products are currently not being sold.

Instead, home shopping channels are focusing on selling domestic travel products. This is because domestic travel demand is rising amid the practical restrictions on overseas travel destinations. In particular, travel products to regions other than Jeju Island are popular. Lotte Homeshopping aired a broadcast for a Happy Multi-Stay Voucher on the 13th, recording 3,300 reservations. This product allows customers to choose from about 100 accommodations in popular domestic travel destinations such as Jeju, Busan, and Gangneung, with a maximum stay of 7 nights. On the 20th, they plan to sell an Ulleungdo cruise package product.

Hyundai Homeshopping recently sold various travel products including Yongpyong, Gyeongju, Pyeongchang, and Jeju, exceeding sales targets by 20%. GS Shop aired a broadcast for Haeundae LCT Residence on the 13th, recording 3,300 reservations and over 1 billion KRW in orders. This exceeded their internal target by 60%.

Major online shopping malls are also seeing a resurgence in sales of domestic and overseas travel products. According to 11st, from the 1st of last month to the 16th of this month, overseas flight sales increased by 206% year-on-year, and domestic flight sales rose by 95%. During the same period, Gmarket saw overseas travel product sales increase by 128% and domestic travel product sales by 75%. A 11st representative said, "We are currently planning to launch overseas travel products focusing on countries that have opened their borders such as Saipan, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Australia, while monitoring the COVID-19 situation."

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