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African
Tourism Marketers Take Notice
Korea Now a Tourism
'Superpower'
 The
number of Koreans travelling abroad passed
the 10 million mark for the first time in
2005, growing at a rate of 14.2% for the
year. The upturn helped drive arrivals
figures to new heights in popular Korean
destinations such as China (PRC), Japan
and the USA.
The
outbound surge was particularly strong in
the Korean summer with more than one
million Koreans travelling abroad in both
July and August, the country's peak
outbound season.
The
2005 statistics just released from the
Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and
the Korea Tourism Organization show
that:-
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The most popular destination regions were
Asia (72.6%), the Americas (8.1%), Europe
(5.8%), and the Pacific
(4.5%).
*
China (PRC) and Japan were the most
popular countries, attracting 2.96 million
and 1.74 million Koreans respectively.
China (PRC) and Japan together captured
51.1% of total Korean
outbound.
*
In Europe, Germany and the UK were first
and second most popular destinations with
141,606 and 111,845 arrivals respectively.
*
Travel for pleasure accounted for 60% of
Koreans' trips (business 22.5%).
*
The pleasure travel category accounted for
77% of all Koreans' trips to the Pacific;
62% of all trips to Asia; 51.8% of all
trips to Europe; and 38% of all trips to
the Americas.
*
More than half (52.4%) were aged 40 years
or younger, with a significant number
(29.1%) aged 30 years or younger. Koreans
over 60 years old only accounted for 9.3%
of the total.
*
Air was easily the most preferred mode of
travel with Seoul's Incheon airport
capturing 80.9% of all outbound
movements.
Korea's inbound tourism sector is also
booming, with 6.02 million arrivals in
2005, up 3.5% on 2004 and passing the six
million mark for the first
time.
"The Korean outbound tourism miracle has
been the product of dramatic, and at the
time, painful structural reform in the
economy following financial collapse in
'97-98," said PATA Director-Strategic
Intelligence Mr John Koldowski. "Over
time, as the Korean people's spending
power strengthened, so did their resolve
to spend it on overseas experiences,
especially in Asia."
Mr
Koldowski cited Korea as a strong example
of a country that operates by the
principle of 'total tourism' -- a belief
that inbound, outbound and domestic
tourism delivers a range of socio-cultural
benefits, as well as an economic
multiplier effect across many sectors of
society.
"For many years Korea had a reputation for
isolation -- the 'hermit' kingdom, as it
was known. Now Korea's culture,
consumption patterns and investments are
an integral part of the Asia Pacific
success story," he said.
ABOUT PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel
Association (PATA) is the recognised
authority on Asia Pacific travel and
tourism. PATA provides leadership and
advocacy to the collective efforts of
nearly 100 government, state and city
tourism bodies, more than 55 airlines and
cruise lines, and hundreds of travel
industry companies. In addition, thousands
of travel professionals belong to dozens
of PATA chapters worldwide.
PATA's mission is to enhance the growth,
value and quality of Asia Pacific travel
and tourism for the benefit of its
membership. PATA is a not-for-profit
organisation.
Find out more at www.PATA.org.
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