Q3 2021 Korea accommodation sales analysis shows 35% YoY growth
ONDA Stay Index (OSI) Q3 Results: Coastal Stays Surge, International OTAs Jump 234%
— ONDA analyzes Q3 2021 Korea accommodation sales data: 35% YoY growth
— Private travel trend continues, pool villa sales soar; hotels show modest recovery
— Jeju and coastal regions drive growth while Seoul market shrinks under capacity restrictions
— International OTA GMV up 234.4% YoY, led by Airbnb's push into suburban areas
(Press Release — October 15, 2021) Korea's accommodation market grew steadily in Q3 2021 as summer travelers doubled down on private stays at coastal resorts.
According to the Q3 ONDA Stay Index (OSI) released by B2B hospitality platform ONDA, total accommodation sales grew approximately 35% year-over-year. Despite concerns that the fourth wave of COVID-19 would dampen peak summer travel in July and August, demand simply shifted later in the season — fueling strong growth in Jeju and other coastal destinations.
All property types grew YoY. Pool villas led the pack, with sales up 140.6% compared to Q3 2020. Hotter-than-usual weather and fewer rainy days drove guests toward private accommodations where they could swim on-site, extending the "staycation" trend from earlier quarters.
Hotels, which had lagged behind in previous quarters, posted a 49.7% gain over Q2 as the "hotelcation" concept took hold. Glamping and RV parks also posted modest gains as outdoor recreation remained popular.
Regional performance was split. Seoul saw sales drop 25.7% YoY as social distancing rules capped group sizes. Gyeonggi Province stagnated as well. By contrast, coastal areas surged: North Gyeongsang (+91%) — including Pohang, Yeongdeok, and Uljin — and South Chungcheong (+60.7%), anchored by Boryeong and Taean.
Jeju posted explosive 72% YoY growth despite brief Level 4 restrictions during the quarter.
International OTAs are gaining share fast. Bookings via global platforms jumped 234.4% YoY, with market share more than doubling from 5.1% in Q3 2020 to 12.8% in Q3 2021. Airbnb led the charge, capitalizing on demand for quiet, suburban locations and longer stays — a trend accelerated by the pandemic recovery.
"Long COVID has cemented demand for private accommodations and nature-focused getaways outside major cities," said Kim Ki-wook, Head of ONDA Data Lab. "With vaccination rates now above 60% and the country preparing to shift toward 'living with COVID,' we expect solid transaction volume in Q4."
The ONDA Stay Index (OSI) tracks year-over-year trends across Korea's accommodation industry using real sales data from approximately 40,000 properties transacted through ONDA's distribution platform (GDS). ONDA publishes the index quarterly.
[Image 1] ONDA Stay Index :: Q3 2021 Accommodation Market Overview Infographic
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