Jeonnam Tourist Attractions Gaining Popularity Among High Purchasing Power Senior Generation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province is emerging as a healing destination most preferred by the senior generation aged 50 and over, a new consumer group in the tourism industry.

According to Jeonnam Province, an analysis of outsider consumption data from BC Shinhan Card by the Korea Tourism Organization Data Lab proved that Jeonnam, based on its pristine ecological tourism resources, ranked first nationwide in the proportion of tourism consumption by those aged 50 and over in 2021, confirming it as a popular tourist destination favored by the senior generation.

In fact, Jeonnam maintained second place after Gyeongbuk in the proportion of tourism consumption by those aged 50 and over compared to all age groups in 2019 and 2020, but in 2021, it was surveyed at 45%, surpassing Gyeongbuk (44.6%) to take first place.

Those aged 50 and over are considered major spenders with purchasing power in the consumption sector. Among the highest-tier members of Korea’s three major department stores, 61% are aged 50 and over, and 73% of ultra-high-priced customers who purchased travel products priced at 9.3 million won from a home shopping channel were aged 50 and over. Also, 72% of passengers on Jeonnam’s tourist circulation bus, Namdo Hanbakkwi, are aged 50 and over.

For this reason, Jeonnam Province is operating the 2022?2023 Visit Jeonnam Year to open the era of 100 million tourists, focusing on developing silver tourism content preferred by the senior generation, such as ▲beautiful island tourism ▲traveling for a month in Jeonnam ▲and continuously expanding safe tourist destinations within the province.

Jeonnam is rich in premium islands where various themed tourism is possible, including Shinan Purple Island, selected as the world’s best tourism village by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Soakdo, the starting point of the 12 Apostles pilgrimage trail known as Korea’s Santiago, and Wando Cheongsando, famous for its green barley fields.

A representative bucket list for middle-aged and older people with economic and time freedom is ‘traveling by living in one area for a certain period.’ The ‘traveling for a month in Namdo,’ where one can experience beautiful natural scenery and delicious Namdo cuisine, is gaining nationwide popularity through word of mouth.

Moreover, amid growing interest in safe tourist destinations after COVID-19, Jeonnam has been recognized as the number one safe travel destination, with 26 sites including Suncheonman National Garden, Damyang Juknokwon, and Haenam Forest Arboretum selected as safe tourist destinations by the Korea Tourism Organization, the highest number nationwide.

From 2019 to 2021, an analysis of TMAP navigation showed that among the eight popular destinations in Jeonnam visited by outsiders, five safe tourist destinations were included: Damyang Juknokwon, Yeosu Odongdo, Suncheonman National Garden, Suncheonman Wetland, and Yeonggwang Baeksu Coastal Road.

As South Korea’s population aged 65 and over is expected to exceed 20% by 2025, entering a super-aged society, the senior generation, once regarded as recipients of care, now holds the greatest influence in the tourism consumption market, making competition among local governments to attract senior tourists even fiercer.

Kim Youngshin, Director of Tourism, Culture, and Sports Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “In celebration of the 2022?2023 Visit Jeonnam Year, we are striving to make Jeonnam a place where all generations, including seniors, want to travel.” He added, “Based on clean and healing natural environments such as islands and coastlines, we will build stay-type tourism infrastructure and work to ensure that all tourists visiting Jeonnam, including the elderly, can enjoy their visit without inconvenience.”

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