Chinese Tourists Flock to Jeju Ahead of Golden Holiday... "No Vacant Rooms"

Ahead of China's Labor Day holiday (May 1-5), international flights are already fully booked, and hotel rooms are selling out everywhere.

In addition to the increase in foreign tourists centered on Yukeo (游客, Chinese group tourists), there is growing anticipation of a special boost in the travel market.

Chinese group tourists boarding a bus
Photo by Yonhap News

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According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province on the 16th, seven international cruise ships are scheduled to call at the port between May 1 and 6, including major international cruises such as Costa Serena (passenger capacity 5,260), Adora Magic City (passenger capacity 5,246), and Adora Magic City·Blue Dream Melody (passenger capacity 1,582).

With the significant expansion of international routes connecting Jeju and China starting from China's Labor Day, the tourism industry is preparing for a large-scale return of Yukeo. The Jeju?Shanghai route is increasing to operate 58 flights per week starting May 1. The Jeju?Beijing route is also scheduled to operate 17 flights per week from the 24th of this month.

In May, international flights connecting major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, Fuzhou, Hong Kong, and Macao will operate 126 times per week. Additionally, starting in June, the Jeju?Dalian route will be added twice a week, and further increases on the China?Beijing route are expected in July.

Jeju hotel rooms are also rapidly filling up. The Grand Hyatt Jeju within the Jeju Dream Tower complex recorded an 85% reservation rate for rooms from May 1 to 5.

Chinese group tourists visiting Yongduam Rock

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Lotte Tour Development stated, “During the early May golden holiday period, the Grand Hyatt Jeju has nearly 1,500 room reservations per day,” adding, “If this trend continues, the average daily room reservation rate is expected to exceed 90% by the end of this month or during the May golden holiday.”

This surge in reservations coincides with the golden holiday period from Labor Day (May 1) to the substitute holiday for Children's Day.

Other luxury hotels are experiencing similar situations, with family-oriented domestic demand increasing as the month of family celebrations continues, leading to a rise in reservations.

According to the Jeju Tourism Association's report on Jeju arrivals, among the 209,948 foreign visitors to Jeju from January to February this year, 170,664 were Chinese tourists, accounting for 83% of all foreign visitors. The number of domestic tourists visiting Jeju from January to March this year was 2,818,627 (provisional), which is nearly a 10% decrease compared to 3,101,129 during the same period last year.

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