Agoda, one of the fastest growing online travel agents (OTAs), today revealed the top trending summer travel spots for independent travelers in 2018.
Examining where travelers within South Korea are booking from June through August, Jeju Island (well known for its natural landscape, including waterfalls, scenic beaches and national park with lots of flora and fauna) was the most booked domestic destination for Korean travelers, followed by Seoul and Busan. For those traveling overseas, the allure of Japan – with its combination of unique culture, temples, mountains and beaches – proves too much to resist, as Japanese destinations Osaka, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Okinawa and Sapporo make up five of the top ten overseas destinations.
Top Summer Destinations for Korean travelers
| Domestic destinations | Overseas destinations | |
| 1. | Jeju Island | Osaka, Japan |
| 2. | Seoul | Tokyo, Japan |
| 3. | Busan | Da Nang, Vietnam |
| 4. | Incheon | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 5. | Sokcho | Okinawa Main Island, Japan |
| 6. | Gangneung | Bangkok, Thailand |
| 7. | Gyeongju | Sapporo, Japan |
| 8. | Pyeongchang | Cebu, Philippines |
| 9. | Daegu | Hoi An, Vietnam |
| 10. | Jeonju | Guam, USA |
Globally, independent travelers are seeking destinations where they can enjoy historical and contemporary sights and sounds. Tokyo proves to be just as popular outside of South Korea as it takes the number one spot for Asia Pacific summer travel. South Korea’s capital, Seoul, also makes an appearance in the top ten, taking sixth place.
London, Paris, and Rome are the top European destinations to which independent travelers are heading this summer, while American cities Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles are the top picks in North America. Even though it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast are the top Pacific Ocean destinations, along with Guam and Saipan.
“Worldwide, we are seeing that the diversity and vibrancy offered by cities holds real appeal for independent travelers this summer. These travelers are looking to explore more than just the usual tourist sights: instead they like to immerse themselves in local neighborhoods to really experience the city, off the beaten track. Through Agoda they get to choose from a great range of hotels, apartments, and villas at any budget, and the Agoda app highlights great things to do and places to see in their neighborhood,” explained John Brown, CEO, Agoda.
Top Summer Destinations by Region
| Asia Pacific | North America | Europe | |
| 1. | Tokyo, Japan | Las Vegas, Nevada | London, UK |
| 2. | Bangkok, Thailand | New York, New York | Paris, France |
| 3. | Osaka, Japan | Los Angeles, California | Rome, Italy |
| 4. | Okinawa Main Island, Japan | San Francisco, California | Barcelona, Spain |
| 5. | Bali, Indonesia | Oahu, Hawaii | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 6. | Seoul, South Korea | Orlando, Florida | Venice, Italy |
| 7. | Taipei, Taiwan | Chicago, Illinois | Berlin, Germany |
| 8. | Kyoto, Japan | Boston, Massachusetts | Milan, Italy |
| 9. | Singapore, Singapore | Seattle, Washington | Moscow, Russia |
| 10. | Hong Kong SAR, China | Toronto, Ontario | Munich, Germany |
For foreign independent travelers visiting Korea, Seoul was the preferred destination, followed by Jeju Island and Busan. Taiwanese travelers recorded the highest number of bookings for summer travel to Seoul, followed by Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. China (ranked fifth) and the United States (sixth) also represented a fair share of inbound travel during the June to August period.
About the research
Agoda collated data from bookings made globally for June through August 2018.
For more information, please contact press@agoda.com.
