Vietnam becomes top summer destination for Korean tourists in 2024

Analysis of travel trends for Q3 released by Kyowon Tour Travel Easy on July 8 revealed that Vietnam tops the list of preferred overseas destinations for South Koreans.

Specifically, for the first time in Q3/2024, Vietnam surpassed Japan with a booking rate of 13.7 per cent, compared to Japan's 13.2 per cent and China's 11.7 per cent.

Short-distance travel destinations accounted for 80 per cent of total bookings during the 2024 summer peak season, particularly during Chuseok, the biggest holiday for South Koreans. The main reason was found to be that Koreans prefer shorter trips to manage costs.

Yong Sung Ok, regional director for Southeast Asia at Hanatour, one of South Korea's leading travel agencies, said, "Vietnam has become a popular destination for South Korean tourists due to its geographical proximity, abundant flights, relatively affordable prices, and attractive experiences."

Tourism experts also note that Vietnamese cuisine is a significant draw for Korean visitors. Street food from various regions have gained international popularity, such as pho, banh mi, and egg coffee. These local dishes have even been shared on social media by South Korean celebrities, spreading the influence of Vietnamese cuisine worldwide. Popular destinations include Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Danang.

To meet the increasing demand, Korean budget airlines are increasing flights to Vietnam, focusing on expanding routes to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

On June 19, the Daegu-Nha Trang route resumed operations. This route had been suspended since its initial launch in May 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to growing demand, the route has been reinstated.

Eastar Jet, which already operates flights from Incheon to Nha Trang, has also announced a new route to Phu Quoc, starting July 19, with seven round-trip flights per week.

To maintain and attract Korean tourists to Vietnam, Park Jong Kyung, consul general of the South Korean embassy in Vietnam, suggested that Vietnam's tourism industry should provide signs in the Korean language, establish a 24/7 tourist support hotline, and implement policies to assist Korean and international tourists in case of passport loss.

Tourism experts believe that attractive tourism products alone are not enough to encourage repeat visits from Korean tourists. The industry needs to strategically invest in product operations to create consistency and synergy, leveraging destination appeal.

For example, issues of civilised, polite, and friendly service need to be upgraded, particularly addressing the problem of price gouging. Last year, authorities intervened in a case that a South Korean female tourist in Danang was overcharged by a driver, who demanded an additional $14.8 for alleged airport parking fees.

KTO to launch promotions to lure Vietnamese tourists The Korean Tourism Organisation (KTO) will launch many events online and offline to promote the image of Korean tourism in the Vietnamese market.

Tourism to become truly spearhead, green industry by 2030 Vietnam aims to turn tourism into a truly spearhead economic sector with green growth and world leading development capacity by 2030.

Tourism surge boosts Vietnam’s economy The number of foreign arrivals to Vietnam is forecast to increase 40 per cent this year, making a significant contribution to the country's economy.