December 2017 brought crisis after crisis—Pohang's earthquake, Bali's eruption, and China's THAAD freeze. Here's how Korean hospitality adapted, and what ONDA built to solve vacancy at scale.
ONDA's solution to fill your vacant rooms — all at once.
Solving vacancy is simpler than you think. Sell on multiple channels at the same time. The hard part? Managing all those channels manually — it's brutal. That's why ONDA recently launched ONDA GDS (Global Distribution Service), letting properties sell inventory in real time across channels without messy contracts or manual syncing. If empty rooms keep you up at night, reach out. (Contact: peter.choi@onda.me)
[Travel News, Nov 27, 2017 — ONDA CMO Kim Ji-ho: Beyond booking management, now connecting OTAs with guesthouses and pensions via GDS]
Pohang earthquake: ₩115 billion in damage, 1,202 displaced
Late November brought a devastating earthquake to Pohang. Buildings collapsed, roads cracked — ₩115 billion in direct and indirect damage. Tourism plummeted to less than a tenth of normal levels. Accommodation cancellations hit 80%. To recover, the city launched "Pohang Total Discount," slashing 10% off all F&B and lodging prices for two months starting December 18.
It's a sobering case study. How should properties respond in disasters like this? How do you minimize losses and rebuild trust for future visits? Around the same time, Yeosu — hit by an avian flu outbreak — rolled out a similar discount program: residents showing ID get 5–20% off at participating businesses.
[Daegu Shinmun, Dec 2, 2017 — Gyeongbuk Province goes all-in to save Pohang economy]
[Mudeung Ilbo, Dec 1, 2017 — Yeosu launches citizen discount for dining and lodging]
Bali's Mount Agung erupts
Another natural disaster, another travel nightmare. Mount Agung's eruption didn't just cancel trips to Bali — it stranded travelers already on the island. Travel agencies moved fast: free cancellations, itinerary changes, safe evacuations. No fees. How would you handle the same situation?
[Global Travel News, Dec 1, 2017 — Korean tourists stranded as Mount Agung erupts]
Korean tourism trapped behind China's Great Wall
Korean tourism is in a bind. THAAD fallout slashed Chinese visitor numbers. Relations are warming now, but here's the new problem: only bottom-barrel, low-quality tour packages are coming through. Not exactly a win.
[Dong-A Ilbo, Dec 5, 2017 — Dongdaemun in the morning, Myeong-dong in the afternoon: cheap shopping loops dominate]
Winter Olympics lodging crisis — now the government steps in
The government finally intervened after Olympic-period lodging prices spiraled out of control. Pensions and motels were charging ₩300,000 to ₩2 million per night. Property owners saw a once-in-a-lifetime payday. But short-term greed risks long-term damage to Pyeongchang's tourism reputation. A successful Olympics matters. So does the region's future.
[Dong-A Ilbo, Nov 28, 2017 — Tax audits ordered for Pyeongchang 'price-gouging' properties]
[JTBC News, Dec 3, 2017 — Olympic windfall? Private homes charging ₩900,000/night]
[Herald Economy, Dec 4, 2017 — Pyeongchang-Gangneung motels: ₩150,000 minimum, ₩250,000 maximum]
Taxi drivers as tour guides — this is how you build local travel products
Gochang-gun launched "Gochang Tourism Taxi," pairing travelers with taxi drivers who know the area's hidden gems, best eats, and local stories. It's a smart response to the shift toward experience-driven, spontaneous travel. Who better to guide you than someone who drives every street daily? Add reasonable pricing and you've got a winner.
[Asia Economy, Dec 4, 2017 — Gochang-gun launches tourism taxi service]