--- title: "NEWS: This Month's Industry Trends at a Glance (Sep 2019)" description: "September 2019's travel snapshot: Japan boycott cuts outbound demand 30%, pushing Koreans toward domestic stays and Southeast Asia. Hotel staycations are no longer niche." published: 2019-09-04T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Insights" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fd0dc7a76e6d2732a437_62e7676c2f9d224dfd0de217_5e9428de33383204e5438adb_cafe_e1848be185b5e18483e185a1e186afe1848be185b4e18489e185a1e186abe1848be185a5e186b8e18483e185a9e186bce18492e185a3e186bc_201909.jpeg" canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=news-bbareuge-ilgeoboneun-idalyi-saneobdonghyang-2019-09 locale: en --- # NEWS: This Month's Industry Trends at a Glance (Sep 2019) ![CAFE_이달의산업동향_201909](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fd0dc7a76e6d2732a437_62e7676c2f9d224dfd0de217_5e9428de33383204e5438adb_cafe_e1848be185b5e18483e185a1e186afe1848be185b4e18489e185a1e186abe1848be185a5e186b8e18483e185a9e186bce18492e185a3e186bc_201909.jpeg) ### **Japan Boycott "Not Working"? The Numbers Say Otherwise** The Japan boycott that we covered last July is still going strong — and it's reshaping travel behavior across the board. Sales of Japan travel packages at major Korean agencies have cratered by roughly 80%, dragging overall outbound travel demand down by 30%. Last summer, Japan was the #1 vacation destination (35.2%). This year? It's slipped out of the top five, clocking in around 8% — behind Thailand, Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian hotspots. As the boycott sidelines what used to be the go-to short-haul destination, we're watching domestic travel preference and booking rates climb in response. Data from Yeogi Eottae shows that office workers are increasingly content with long weekends after taking proper summer breaks — and they're turning to 1-night domestic getaways instead. We'll unpack the details in the article analysis below. The takeaway? Now's the time to double down on keeping domestic travel top of mind — and to build win-win strategies that funnel that interest straight into your property's booking calendar. [SkyDaily, 2019.09.03, Chuseok travelers heading to Southeast Asia amid Japan boycott] ### **Domestic Travel = Overpriced and Boring? Not Anymore** You've probably noticed travel demand shifting. New customer segments are driving new trends. Activities that used to feel "international-only" — surfing, snorkeling, trail running — are now happening all over Korea. And with more leisure time, concepts like "hotel staycations" (호캉스) have taken off. Travel isn't exotic anymore. It's part of everyday life. That shift is quietly changing how Koreans perceive domestic travel. Sure, plenty of people still grumble about it. But demand is climbing — thanks to a wave of creative, cross-industry travel content that's showing off what Korea can offer. Take Yangyang's Jukdo and Ingu beaches. They're now known as "surfer beaches," packed with young people every summer. Snorkeling — once an SE Asia–only thing — is now available in Jeju and Samcheok. Companies are launching hopping tours to uninhabited islands. Local trails and walking routes (올레, 둘레길) are popping up everywhere. New activities and bold ideas are raising the quality bar for domestic travel. And a new breed of traveler — Gen Z and Millennials chasing "value for the heart" (가심비) — is leading the charge. As leisure becomes a core life priority, peak season is flattening out. Month-long and week-long "living" stays are cropping up across regions. Travelers care less about sightseeing and more about restaurants, cafés, and hotels where they can *rest*. To pull in international visitors, Korea is blending tourism with IT, healthcare, the DMZ, rural/coastal experiences, and MICE. Experts say this diversified content will appeal far beyond Asia. The idea that "overseas beats domestic" is outdated. Yes, outbound travel numbers are climbing. But that doesn't mean domestic travel is shrinking. The entire travel-loving population is expanding — both segments are growing at once. The question is: how is *your* property preparing? When interest in domestic travel spikes, can you capture it? Now's the time to read the trends and pull guests through your doors. [News1, 2019.08.22, 'Price gouging' complaints? Domestic travel is reinventing itself] ### **Vacation Booking Scams Are on the Rise. Stay Alert.** Summer heat is fading. Fall breezes are rolling in. To everyone in hospitality who just survived the summer rush — you've earned a break. But September's Chuseok holiday means we're not quite in low season yet. Unfortunately, scammers know people want cheap vacation deals. According to the National Police Agency's 'Summer Vacation Internet Fraud Crackdown,' 17,000 cases were flagged in July–August alone. Direct-deal scams accounted for 69.1% of them. The most common scheme? Fake sellers on secondhand marketplaces offering discounted hotel vouchers and camping gear, then disappearing with the cash. As luxury lodging proliferates, budget-conscious travelers are hunting for deals — and scammers are exploiting that psychology by posing as voucher resellers. We've fielded inquiries from ONDA users caught in these schemes: customers show up with vouchers that have already been redeemed, or that are outright fake, asking us how to resolve it. We get it. Peak-season prices are steep. Every property is fully booked. But buying vouchers from unverified sellers on forums or secondhand sites leaves you with zero recourse. If you're reading this: don't fall for the bait. Always book through official hotel websites or verified booking platforms. [Yonhap News, 2019.09.04, Summer vacation internet fraud up; fake hotel voucher scams lead the pack] ### **"Blink-and-You-Miss-It" Chuseok: Domestic or International — What's Your Pick?** The frantic summer rush feels like yesterday. But here we are in fall — and Chuseok is right around the corner. These days, images of holiday travel usually mean packed airports. Last Chuseok, Korea enjoyed a rare "golden week" of extended time off, and overseas travel soared. This year's different. JobKorea and Yeogi Eottae surveyed 2,570 office workers about their Chuseok plans. Results? 84.1% are planning domestic trips. Only 15.9% are going abroad — a 5:1 ratio in favor of staying local. Why? This Chuseok (Sept 12–15) is four days total — one day shorter than last year's Chuseok or this year's Lunar New Year. And since the holiday runs into the weekend, there's no bridge for extra days off. In the survey, 67.7% of respondents said they won't use any annual leave. With all that stacked up, domestic travel just makes more sense. But here's the key insight: short trips are dominating. Among those planning domestic travel, 40.5% picked 1-night stays, 28.4% chose day trips, and 23.6% went with 2 nights. "Quick getaways" — whether overnight or same-day — are now mainstream. This ties into the broader "travel as everyday life" trend: you don't need a long trip to recharge. For property owners, day-trippers and 1-night guests might feel like extra work (no overnight revenue, more turnover cleaning). But flip the script: lean into the demand. Build day-use programs, "quick recharge" stay packages, or wellness mini-breaks. Creative products tailored to this trend can open new revenue streams — and get your property noticed. Here's to a prosperous Chuseok for everyone — and full occupancy for your property. [MoneyS, 2019.08.30, Short Chuseok holiday favors domestic travel; 7 in 10 won't take extra days off] ## [**View full magazine >>**](http://bit.ly/magazineon33) ## [**Subscribe to the magazine >>**](http://bit.ly/magazinesub) --- ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting.