The number of South Korean tourists going abroad for summer vacation increased sharply despite a deepening economic slowdown, industry data showed Tuesday.
The country's leading travel agency, Hana Tour Service Inc., said it has arranged overseas trips for a total of 68,700 people between July 25 and Aug. 3 this year, up 23.6 percent from 55,600 tallied in 2010.
North America and Southeast Asia were popular destinations over the 10-day period, with the number of tourists traveling there jumping 88 percent and 65.6 percent, respectively, from two years earlier, said Hana Tour. Europe also attracted South Korean travelers, with the number rising 62.6 percent over the cited period.
Those who chose to spend their summer holidays in Japan fell 22.6 percent, due to concerns over the after-effects of the massive earthquake last year, added the company.
No. 2 player Mode Tour Network Inc. also said the number of its customers who went abroad during the same period rose 21.8 percent from two years ago.
Market watchers said a record heat wave and the London Summer Olympics, which ran through Aug. 13, led the increase in outbound tourists. Starting in late July, South Korea was hit by a sweltering heat, wave with midday temperatures topping 35 C for more than two weeks.
"As the scorching heat continued, a growing number of people tried to take a rest on beaches in North America and Southeast Asia," said a company official. "And they would also like to look around Europe to enjoy the big sports event held in London." (Yonhap)