Then, now and next- Evolving honeymoon trends

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives

• Published Mar 25, 2015 11:42 AM KST
• Updated Mar 25, 2015 11:42 AM KST

By Yun Suh-young

A honeymoon is the first step newlyweds take as husband and wife, which means stepping off on the right foot during this trip is extremely important for the rest of the marriage.

Until now, the most crucial factor couples had considered was "where" they should go for honeymoon. But as time evolved, younger generation of Internet-accustomed couples with definitive taste started searching for ways to best spend the time together. Hence, "how" to spend the honeymoon has become more important for couples these days.

Selecting from the menu - the usual

The trend in honeymoons, naturally, follows the trend in travel.

Until about a decade ago, the usual form of honeymoon trips were package tours where a travel agent arranges the transportation, food and lodging as well as the tour schedule - all at an inclusive price.

As much as the trips were ordered from the menu, there weren't that many choices for couples other than the most popular destinations that, statistically, were favored by the greatest number of couples.

These options were usually islands with private beaches and extravagant resorts.

The most popular honeymoon destination a decade ago was the Maldives which continues to be a frequented hotspot today.

"At the time, the Maldives was one of the luxurious options where only the financially well-off had sought. It cost about 4 million to 5 million won per person for a trip to the islands which was a rather burdensome amount at that time," said Han Jun-hee, manager of Lofttop Korea, a local medium-sized travel agency.

"But the influx of foreign capital resulted in competitive construction of new resorts. Subsequently, the price of the resorts decreased and the number of tourists increased."

For the islands, Koreans were one of the biggest contributors to their tourism industry. Koreans filled their low season as the wedding season in Korea usually falls between March and May, and September and November - which doesn't overlap with their peak summer and winter seasons.

"The Maldives was and continues to be a suitable choice for those who seek to relax in privacy," said Han.

But the downside of traveling to the islands is the distance and inconvenience of transportation. Only one national carrier operates a direct flight to the islands which takes 13-hours from Incheon to the Maldives stopping over for two hours at Colombo.

Honeymooners who prefer shorter flight time usually end up visiting South East Asian countries.

In a poll held last year by Marizin, a wedding consultancy, 42 percent of women and 29 percent of men out of 104 respondents picked Europe as their wished for honeymoon destination. But not many end up fulfilling their wishes, according to travel agents.

"Many of the inquiries we receive are for long distance destinations or Europe, but in reality, these inquirers end up booking a destination somewhere in Southeast Asia which is cheaper and closer," said Cho Il-sang, assistant manager at Hana Tour, the nation’s largest tour agency.

"The number one reason is the difficulty in booking flights. Next is the budget. With the same budget, they can book a better place in Southeast Asia. Three in ten couples chose Phuket in Thailand as their honeymoon destination last year."

It also has to do with the short vacation period allowed by Korean companies. The most common vacation period for honeymooners is five days.

According to the travel agency, the top five honeymoon destinations couples booked last year through the company were Phuket, Hawaii, Maldives, Guam and Bali.

Usual to unique

Unlike the abovementioned trend for package tours, the trend for FIT (free independent traveler) honeymooners shows a drastically contrasting pattern.

Long distance destinations such as Cancun have recently surfaced as hotspot in the past year. It is an unusual phenomenon considering the long-haul flight and inconvenience in travel - 17 hours with a maximum three stopovers when departing from Seoul.

"We are seeing a shift in honeymoon trend from the Maldives to Hawaii to Cancun. Last year, Cancun was a big hit among honeymooners although the trip is a painful 17-hour journey stopping over in Las Vegas and Los Angeles," said Cho.

Islands such as Mauritius and the Seychelles are up and coming and Malta in the Mediterranean is also a prospective destination, he said.

The rising popularity of long distance destinations comes with the changing travel patterns of tourists.

"The overall booking for honeymoon package tours hasn't risen. This means either the number of marriages has reduced or the travel pattern has changed. The number of FIT (free independent traveler) has increased," said Cho.

The travel trend is moving from package tours to FIT. Hence, more people are focusing on "what to do" during the trip rather than heading for a destination just for the sake of leaving.

"Instead of simply vacationing at a single resort destination, the pattern of honeymoon tours has shifted to more sightseeing and activities. People are even designing their own trips, selecting programs and making reservations," said Cho.

The popularity of all-inclusive resorts is also a trend resulting from the FIT tour pattern.

"Because package tours don't give tourists enough time to spend in the resort, more independent travelers prefer the all-inclusive types where they can enjoy various activities inside the resort," Cho said.

Designing your own honeymoon

People like Park Eun-kyung are independent travelers who design their own trips.

"I scheduled my own honeymoon without the help of a travel agency. I chose Cancun as my destination because it was a place I've always wanted to go. It had attractive coastal scenery as well as a lot of activities to enjoy. Moreover, there was Cuba one-hour away. I would have had second thoughts if I couldn't visit both," she said.

"I booked an all-inclusive resort in the hotel zone and went on a three-day tour in the nearby region. On the first day, my husband and I went on a day-tour to Chichen Itza and Cenotes, another day to a tour around Isla Mujeres island. The last day, we went to Xelha and snorkeled. The remaining three days, we just relaxed at the beach in front of the resort."

Kim Hyun-sook, a hotelier, said her friend who went on a honeymoon last year also planned everything on her own.

"She booked the cheapest flights offered by travel agency Hana Tour and reserved hotels that fall in her budget range from online booking sites such as Agoda and Expedia. She said she made plans based on information on blogs and Internet communities," said Kim.

"She chose Hawaii because it both had great beaches and was also suitable for shopping."

Former travel reporter Jun Kyoung-woo said the Internet and advanced language skills of people changed the honeymoon travel patterns.

"In the past there wasn't access to the Internet and people had huge language barriers. It was only since the late 1990s that the Internet became prevalent. As more people are easily accessing information online and with the increase in English-speaking population, travelers are actively looking for destinations that match with their preferences," he said.

"What you do at a destination has become important, rather than dragging yourself to a destination and letting the circumstances take over."