'The First Endemic Summer Peak Begins'... Accommodation Bookings Quadruple, Activities Bookings Increase Fivefold

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] As travel demand surges this summer, competition for reservations is expected to intensify. There is a tendency to complete bookings earlier than usual to avoid missing out on good travel packages.

On the 22nd, travel and leisure platform Yanolja analyzed reservation data for the summer peak season (July 1 to August 31) as of the 15th, revealing a significant increase in transaction amounts across all categories including accommodation, activities, and transportation. Accommodation booking transaction amounts increased 3.7 times compared to the previous year. Reservations were also completed 52.3 days before the accommodation usage date, which is 3.5 days earlier than last year. This suggests that due to the high demand for lodging during the summer peak season, travelers are rushing to book their desired products.

With the removal of outdoor mask mandates allowing freer outdoor activities, the use of activity products surged 4.7 times. Since it is the summer peak season, waterpark reservations, where visitors can enjoy refreshing water play, accounted for 52% of all activities, making it the most popular. Waterpark booking transaction amounts increased 5.2 times compared to the same period last year. Following that, experience and leisure sports (34%) and performances and exhibitions (12%) were also popular among many travelers.

The busiest period this summer was reflected in transportation reservation demand. The highest number of flight bookings occurred in the second week of next month, with peaks also in the third and fifth weeks. Rental car usage showed a similar pattern, with the second week of next month having the most reservations, followed by the fifth and fourth weeks. Since demand for both flights and rental cars is concentrated in the same period, the main peak season is expected to be mid-next month.

Kim Yongkyung, Brand Director of Yanolja, said, “As this is the first summer peak season since the endemic phase, travel demand is explosively increasing. To secure good travel products, it is advantageous to complete reservations at an earlier time.”

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