Chinese tourists flocked to South Korea in record numbers during the nine-day Spring Festival (Chunjie) period, driving significant growth in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Lotte Hotels Achieves Sales Milestones
Lotte Hotels recorded its highest-ever inbound sales during the Chunjie period. Foreign customer sales surged 120% compared to the same promotional timeframe from January 13 to 18. Sales from individual travelers from China and Taiwan jumped 260%, marking the peak for any Chunjie celebration.
In Lotte Hotels’ properties, foreign guest bookings rose 180%. Beauty services saw an 80% increase, while spa and outdoor offerings for Chinese visitors grew 255%. Lotte Data reports showed 80% growth in foreign jam food sales and an 85% spike in food and beverage at Lotte World Mall.
The Lotte Tourist membership card program issued 38,000 new cards overall, with around 3,000 activated during the Chunjie period alone.
A Lotte Hotels executive stated, “The K-culture boom and positive word-of-mouth have significantly boosted inbound tourist numbers. We’ve aligned targeted Chunjie promotions with marketing strategies focused on key markets to achieve these results.”
Lotte Department Stores Benefit
Lotte Department Stores noted a 69% rise in foreign sales from January 13 to 18 compared to the prior Chunjie period. Free independent traveler (FIT) sales climbed 82%, and package tour deals increased 61%.
Jeju Island Sees Occupancy Boom
Hotels and casino operators in Jeju, a prime destination for Chinese tourists, experienced robust demand. At the Grand Hyatt Jeju within Dream Tower, occupancy reached 99.4% with 1,590 of 1,600 rooms filled during Chunjie—far surpassing last year’s peak of 72%.
National Projections
The Culture Ministry and Korea Tourism Organization anticipate 1.9 million Chinese visitors nationwide from February 15 to 23, representing a 44% increase over the previous year.
