Korean Overseas Travel Market Surpasses Pre-COVID Levels with 30-40 Age Group Leading Demand
Last year, the overseas travel market in South Korea showed a recovery that has surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels, signaling the dawn of a new era with 30 million travelers. The driving force behind this surge in travel demand has been the 30-40 age group. As a result, the industry is increasingly focusing on product strategies aimed at this demographic.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of South Korean citizens traveling abroad reached 29.55 million last year. This figure exceeds the previous record of 28.69 million in 2019 and stands at 102.9% of the level before the pandemic.
When broken down by age, the presence of the 30s and 40s demographic is particularly notable. Last year, 5.65 million individuals in their 30s traveled abroad, while 5.08 million in their 40s did so, marking increases of 5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Together, these two age groups accounted for approximately 35% of all international travelers. Although the highest growth rate was seen in travelers aged 70 and above (6%), the 30-40 age group has solidified its position as the core consumer segment in absolute terms.
A similar trend is reflected in air travel statistics. According to Korean Air, the proportion of passengers by age who used the airline last year showed that 40% were in their 30s and 40s. In contrast, those in their 50s and 60s accounted for 30%, while the 10-20 age group made up 21%, and other age groups constituted 9%. This data underscores why the travel industry views the 30-40 age group as essential customers.
As demand for overseas travel rapidly expands, there is also a growing preference for independent travel (FIT) among this demographic. The increase in travel frequency, coupled with the ease of accessing travel information via social media, is believed to have contributed to this trend.
However, the industry does not perceive the choices of the 30-40 age group solely as a shift towards complete independent travel. Rather than designing their entire itinerary independently, travelers in this age group are increasingly opting for semi-packaged solutions that include core elements such as flights and hotels while allowing for flexibility in other aspects of their travel plans.
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of South Korean citizens traveling abroad reached 29.55 million last year. This figure exceeds the previous record of 28.69 million in 2019 and stands at 102.9% of the level before the pandemic.
When broken down by age, the presence of the 30s and 40s demographic is particularly notable. Last year, 5.65 million individuals in their 30s traveled abroad, while 5.08 million in their 40s did so, marking increases of 5.9% and 4.5%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Together, these two age groups accounted for approximately 35% of all international travelers. Although the highest growth rate was seen in travelers aged 70 and above (6%), the 30-40 age group has solidified its position as the core consumer segment in absolute terms.
A similar trend is reflected in air travel statistics. According to Korean Air, the proportion of passengers by age who used the airline last year showed that 40% were in their 30s and 40s. In contrast, those in their 50s and 60s accounted for 30%, while the 10-20 age group made up 21%, and other age groups constituted 9%. This data underscores why the travel industry views the 30-40 age group as essential customers.
As demand for overseas travel rapidly expands, there is also a growing preference for independent travel (FIT) among this demographic. The increase in travel frequency, coupled with the ease of accessing travel information via social media, is believed to have contributed to this trend.
However, the industry does not perceive the choices of the 30-40 age group solely as a shift towards complete independent travel. Rather than designing their entire itinerary independently, travelers in this age group are increasingly opting for semi-packaged solutions that include core elements such as flights and hotels while allowing for flexibility in other aspects of their travel plans.
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