When international vacationers contact down in Seoul today, many nonetheless make the well-trodden pilgrimages to Daiso, Korea’s largest low cost retailer chain, and CJ Olive Younger, the nation’s No. 1 magnificence retailer.
More and more, although, one other cease is becoming a member of the itinerary: eyewear retailers.
Korea’s eyewear retailers have change into a shock hit amongst worldwide vacationers, providing speedy manufacturing, clear pricing and glossy designs which have begun to place Korean glasses, or “Okay-glasses,” as the subsequent area of interest after magnificence and medical tourism, based on market analysts.
In accordance with Creatrip Inc., an inbound-tourism platform, the transaction worth for optician-shop bookings between June and October jumped 1,608% from the earlier 5 months.
Creatrip solely launched eyewear-shop-related tour merchandise early this yr, making the surge all of the extra putting.
Bookings span a large geographic combine, from Asia and Europe to North America.
Individuals account for almost 49% of all reservations, adopted by Taiwanese at 26% and Germans at 9%, based on Creatrip.
SAME-DAY SERVICE
Creatrip mentioned the enchantment mirrors the qualities which have helped Okay-beauty go international: velocity, worth and powerful design.
Korean opticians sometimes supply same-day service, with eye exams and prescription lenses prepared in lower than an hour, in contrast with the a number of days typically required overseas.
Costs, too, are decrease than in lots of guests’ house markets, permitting vacationers to choose up high-quality frames with out the premium.
Design has emerged as one other differentiator.
For patrons, Okay-glasses are much less a medical necessity than a vogue assertion.
Outlets close to main vacationer districts have, in flip, change into locations in their very own proper.
At one eyewear retailer in Myeongdong, downtown Seoul, 44% of international guests booked providers alongside different vacationer merchandise, suggesting that eyewear shops have gotten embedded into journey itineraries relatively than serving as purchasing detours, analysts mentioned.
Okay-GLASSES: LIKELY NEXT Okay-BEAUTY EXPORT ITEM
As demand grows, Creatrip plans to develop its companion community of optician retailers and improve its reserving techniques.
“Visiting an eyewear store is turning into greater than a purchasing journey. It’s evolving into a particular journey expertise for worldwide vacationers,” mentioned Lim Hye-min, the corporate’s chief government. “By emphasizing Korea’s distinctive strengths, we purpose to assist eyewear retailers be a part of magnificence and medical providers as important stops for abroad guests, supported by simpler reservations and significant advantages.”
With tourism flows into Korea recovering and vacationers looking for out novel, hyper-local experiences, Okay-glasses might show to be the subsequent international export, analysts mentioned.
