The ‘7-Day, 8-Second Summer Vacation’ Has Changed, With 4 in 10 Workers Choosing to Take It

The number of so-called “early vacationers,” those who leave for summer vacations early to avoid the peak season of July and August, is expected to increase this year. This is attributed to the growing number of ‘smart consumers’ who want to travel with less hustle and bustle and save more money.

According to statistics compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)메이저사이트 on June 22, the number of Koreans departing Korea in June, which is considered the off-season, increased by an average of 12.7 percent annually over the past five years. This far exceeds the average annual increase of 8.3% over the same period. It was 3 to 7 percentage points higher than the growth rate in July (9.5%) and August (5.8%), the typical peak season months.

This trend was also reflected in a survey conducted by Jeju Air through its social media channels. Of those planning a summer vacation this year, 42% of respondents said they plan to go on vacation in May-June or September-October, avoiding the peak season of July and August. That’s more than four in 10 people who aren’t committed to a “peak summer vacation. Specifically, 52% of those who said they would vacation outside of peak season said they chose this time of year because “travel is expensive during peak season (July and August).”

For their first vacation since the COVID-19 pandemic, many respondents plan to take it “off-season” and “near home. Of those planning to travel abroad, the majority (88%) prefer short to medium distances, such as Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Thirty-one percent said they are considering short- to medium-haul travel because “travel costs are lower, including airline ticket prices and local prices.”

The airline industry predicts that this trend will continue, as China’s reopening has boosted airline demand, coupled with a trend toward more frugal consumption. “As the economic downturn continues, a similar trend is expected to continue this year,” said a Jeju Air representative, adding that the airline is running a ticket promotion on its Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Oita, Japan routes until May 31 for ‘early holiday families.