South Korea eyes the Indian luxury traveller
Korea is now open to travellers and promises an all-immersive luxury experience to visitors. The country has already made it to the headlines for its K-Dramas and K-Pop, topping the wishlist of international travellers. Read more to know all about the strategy and offerings Korea has for its travellers - ranging from luxury stays and wedding destinations to breathtaking sightseeing.
South Korea has geared up to welcome Indian travellers and offer them an experience like never before. Famous for its scenic beauty, aesthetically pleasing sights and K-Drama fandom, Korea has meticulously handpicked and promised an immersive experience to its travellers. In a conversation with Trade Travel Journal, Jane Han, CEO, Jane DMC Korea, shared that Korea has a plethora of offerings for visitors ranging from weddings to corporate meetings and FITs, looking for a luxury stay. Jane DMC
Korea aspires to tap into these offerings and boost the luxury segment. She added, contemporary travellers from India can be categorised as exchange students, students willing to visit South Korea for higher studies, along with corporate stalwarts and tourists travelling with families. Going forward, Korea also wishes to extend its world-class luxury experience to the Indian traveller.
Jaemin An, CEO, JEJU Ent. and Seoyun Gong, Marketing Manager, JEJU Ent. shared with us snippets of their plan to offer the immersive Jeju-experience with Travel Trade Journal. Korea’s spectacular Jeju Island is opening its market for travellers looking for a luxury experience. The island is an emerging destination for weddings and K-Drama sites. Jeju Island is a UNESCO natural heritage site and one of the very popular destinations in South Korea. JEJU Ent. promises a luxury experience ranging from luxury hotels, casinos, golf to exquisite cuisine - available in attractive packages.
If you’re looking for a destination for family trips or weddings or some solo hopping, Jeju Island has something to offer to all its travellers. The connectivity is seamless - with luxury buses and limousines (for internal travel) to a possibility of direct flights from India to Jeju Island. For lovers of nature and culture, one can soak in the warmth of the traditional folk villages or witness a traditional wedding. There are innumerable activities and sports offered at Jeju. If you’re a vegetarian or looking for drool-worthy Indian food - Baghdad Restaurant is your go-to place (thank us later!). They have also onboarded influencers to keep the socials buzzing with information to be shared with the travellers.
Young Geul (Ian) Choi, Director, Korea Tourism Organization, New Delhi Office, mentioned some very important focus areas to ensure revenue-recovery in the postpandemic world. He shared that a luxury traveller stays for about nine days in Korea, which is relatively higher than an average traveller - all thanks to Korea’s offering in the luxury travel segment. The strategies include the curation and offering of highquality customised services to ensure a luxury experience. The tech-savvy country is now carving its niche in the luxury travel segment by focusing on boutique weddings, wedding anniversaries, golf tours as well as beauty and wellness tourism and exquisite gourmet travel.
Korea offers a garland of luxury options. From pristine nature, culinary culture, activitybased tours, to luxurious hospitality second to none. Korea Luxury Travel Mart has been instrumental in promoting the destination to the well-off Indian traveller. A myriad of online and offline business consultations, global luxury travel conferences, and luxury FAM trips are being organised by the board to establish Korea as a formidable luxury destination.
The Environment Social Governance (ESG) project in Korea aims to open about a hundred destinations, managed by the government, as sustainable hotspots. The government has been planning to reduce the overall carbon footprint, suggesting alternatives to reduce wastage. The tech hub is now emerging as a giant in the luxury tourism market. The rich heritage and culture of Korea is a unique blend of the local traditions along with an eagerness to adapt with the ever-changing modern world.
Choi shared that the pandemic hit the revenue flow and the strategy now involves targeting niche travellers and visitors to Korea. While they have revived 30 to 40 per cent of the pre-pandemic revenue, the strategy is to boost the economy and generate revenue. The move is to target high-income travellers and build the luxury segment. They expect normalcy by next year - projecting revenue levels to reach the pre-pandemic inflow. The organisation is active in hosting both B2B and B2C events across India. A roadshow has been planned for Delhi and Chennai, followed by a B2B roadshow sometime next year.