Will the recovery in Jeju's accommodation market continue?
Hello from the ONDA Pension Plus team.
We have good news: Jeju Island's visitor numbers are back on the rise. According to Korea Tourism Data Lab, visitors to Jeju increased 0.7% year-over-year last month — ending a long slump and returning to growth.
Last year, Jeju saw a sharp 9.1% drop in arrivals compared to 2022, which understandably worried everyone in the island's tourism industry. But it looks like the downturn has finally reversed, and we're genuinely excited to share this update.
Will this be a one-off bounce, or the start of a sustained recovery? We at ONDA Pension Plus think the momentum will continue — here are three reasons why: ▲rising international arrivals (especially from China), ▲growing demand for upscale accommodation, and ▲Jeju's enduring appeal as a family destination.
1. Foreign Visitors Are Surging — Led by China
According to the Jeju Tourism Association's daily statistics (released April 23), domestic visitors to Jeju were down 9.3% year-to-date this year. But international arrivals? They exploded — up 459% to about 500,000 visitors.
Korea Tourism Data Lab's Q1 breakdown shows that Chinese travelers accounted for over 60% of all foreign arrivals. And Jeju topped the list of preferred destinations for Chinese tourists during China's upcoming May Golden Week holiday.
While Japanese visitors tend to favor solo culinary trips, Chinese travelers typically come in couples and love cosmetics shopping. Importantly, Chinese guests stay an average of 4 days — nearly twice as long as Japanese visitors' 2.4-day average. That longer stay translates directly into more nights booked.
The takeaway? Getting your property listed on global OTAs to capture Chinese demand is only going to get more important. And the easiest way to connect to international channels? Pension Plus, of course. 😊
2. Pool Villas and Luxury Rentals Are Booming
So what type of accommodation is most in demand on Jeju right now? Hotels still attract plenty of guests, but let's look at ONDA Pension Plus internal data:
Pool villas saw massive transaction growth across nearly every domestic and international travel platform.
This shift suggests that the pandemic-era "solo Jeju trip" trend has given way to couple and family getaways — groups that naturally gravitate toward private, upscale rentals.
3. Jeju Owns the Family Travel Market
May is Family Month in Korea, and one of the biggest travel trends is multi-generational trips — grandparents, parents, and grandchildren traveling together. When it comes to family-friendly destinations, Jeju dominates by a landslide.
As we mentioned earlier, pool villas are hot right now. And pool villas + family trips? A perfect match.
Between the return of Chinese tourists, Jeju's rock-solid reputation as a family destination, and surging demand for upscale private rentals, the island's hospitality sector is poised for a strong rebound. Last year was tough — Koreans traveled abroad in record numbers, but inbound tourism hadn't recovered to pre-pandemic levels. That imbalance hit Jeju hard.
But the trend is turning. ONDA is rooting for nothing but good news ahead for Jeju's hospitality community.
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