Seven out of 10 int'l travelers choose Japan: Yanolja reports

Osaka, followed by other Japanese cities, is the top international choice for South Korean travelers, while domestically, Jeju Island remains the favorite, as revealed by a recent survey from Yanollja, the country's leading travel platform.

The firm's analysis, unveiled on Tuesday, assessed flight ticket data from July 6 to August 3, post their global aviation service inauguration.

Findings revealed a balanced ticket purchase pattern: 49% favored domestic routes while 51% opted for international destinations.

Delving into specific months, August emerged as the favored month for departures, capturing 45% of bookings for both domestic and international flights.

Notably, September's data suggest a surge in overseas jaunts, with international flights registering at 17%, more than double the 8% domestic rate.

The upswing is attributed to the upcoming extended holiday, including Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving.

Domestically, Jeju Island claimed a commanding 44% preference among domestic travelers, trailed by Seoul (32%), Busan (9%), Cheongju (5%), and Gwangju (4%).

On the international front, Osaka (35%), Fukuoka (21%) and Tokyo (16%) dominated, reflecting that 70% of international travelers are Japan-bound.

"While the summer witnessed a pronounced uptick in domestic bookings, our September figures underscore a brisk pivot to overseas travel, likely spurred by the forthcoming prolonged holiday season," a Yanlolja spokesperson said.

Write to Mi-Kyoung Lee at capital@hankyung.com