Travelers are returning as pandemic comes to an end

Industry

Published: 19 Oct. 2022, 17:39 Updated: 19 Oct. 2022, 17:39

Travelers are returning as pandemic comes to an end

A traveler looks up at electronic boards showing flight information at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on September 14. [YONHAP]

Tourism is bouncing back as the pandemic ends, with travel-related companies boasting of more travelers coming through their doors and occupying seats on planes.

In the spirit of recovery, promotions are being reintroduced and duty free shops are spiffying themselves up.

Foreign travelers staying at hotels since September have risen 20 to 70 percent on year, according to data from local hotels.

The Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, announced on Monday that 70 percent of the hotel's third-quarter guests were from abroad. This is a similar proportion to the third quarter of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, and a stark contrast to the third quarter of 2021, when only 30 percent of guests were from abroad.

Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung District, central Seoul. [LOTTE HOTEL]

At Lotte Hotel in central Seoul's Sogong-dong, around 60 percent of the 1,000 rooms were occupied by guests from overseas during the July-to-September period. The figure had fallen to about 20 percent last year. Before the pandemic, the proportion was around 80 percent.

“As the demand for business trips from global companies is recovering, the proportion of foreigners is gradually increasing,” said a Lotte Hotel employee.

The Westin Josun Seoul, also in Sogong-dong, reported that 40 percent of its guests were foreign in the holiday season in July and August this year. That number increased to 60 percent in September and October.

Last year, the proportion was around 10 percent in July and August, while it was 20 percent in October and November. Before the pandemic, an average of 75 percent of all guests were from abroad at The Westin Josun Seoul.

An increase in the percentage of foreign guests was reported by Four Points by Sheraton Josun, located near Seoul Station. During the third quarter this year, the proportion was 46 percent, but recovered to 60 percent last month. This is a significant increase from the 10 percent in the third quarter of last year and is close to the 65 to 70 percent range before the pandemic.

RYSE, Autograph Collection, a hotel in Hongdae, Mapo District, western Seoul. [RYSE]

According to RYSE, Autograph Collection, a hotel in the Hongdae area in western Seoul bustling with tourists, 86 percent of its guests came from overseas during the third quarter of this year. That's 77 percentage points higher than the same period last year.

The number of tourists visiting Korea from abroad in July reached 276,986, an increase of 218 percent compared to the same month last year, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Following the abolition of PCR testing before entering the country in August, the requirement to perform a PCR test within one day of entry was also lifted earlier this month.

Demand for overseas travel is also on the rise.

Lotte Duty Free's revenue from domestic consumers increased by 230 percent in the past three months compared to the same period last year.

Employees wearing Lotte Duty Free's new hanbok-inspired uniforms. [LOTTE DUTY FREE]

Lotte Duty Free announced Monday will introduce new uniforms for employees at all domestic stores. The new uniform design was inspired by the hanbok, traditional Korean dress.

Shinsegae Duty Free has welcomed new premium brands, such as Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot, and is introducing new products exclusively in Korea to attract consumers to its stores.

Interpark is reimbursing customers who find airfares cheaper than the tickets they've bought since Monday.

An advertisement for Interpark's promotion for customers who find airfares cheaper than the tickets they've bought. [INTERPARK]

Since Oct. 11, if a purchased ticket is not the cheapest one, ticket buyers can get a 100 percent guaranteed refund of the price difference. If a customer finds a cheaper offer than the ticket they already bought, they can make a screen capture of the cheaper offer and submit it through an automatic chat bot, and get a refund of the price difference in the form of I-Points, usable on Interpark, within seven days.

This is the first time in five years that such a compensation system is being offered, according to Interpark.

“The travel industry did not promote cheapest airfares for a while due to the boycott of Japanese products in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic that directly followed in 2020,” said a spokesperson for Interpark. “The purpose of the compensation this time around is to once again strengthen our position in the air ticket reservation market.”

BY YOO JI-YOEN [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]