Jeju Island at the southern tip, Thailand’s capital Bangkok and Vietnamese hide-out Da Nang are favorite destinations for Koreans to spend long Chuseok holiday falling across Sept. 12-15 this year, with Japanese locations off the list amid diplomatic and trade row.

Global travel search engine Skyscanner analyzed airline ticket searches by Koreans for September 11 to 15 and found that Jeju, Bangkok and Da Nang held the top three spots as choices for Koreans this Chuseok are restricted due to shorter days and anti-Japan sentiment.

Vietnam’s Da Nang was the top pick by group tourists. The fourth largest city in Vietnam has become Koreans’ value-for-money vacationing destination. The city has My Khe Beach that was voted the top six most beautiful beaches of the planet and many tourist spots including Hoi An ancient town, Bana Hills and Marble Mountains.

Single tourists showed their highest interest in Jeju, followed by Bangkok and Da nang. Jeju Island has long been the nation’s most popular domestic holiday destination thanks to its beautiful beaches and natural attractions such as Halla Mountain and parasitic volcanoes. It has many famous restaurants, cafes and traditional markets, and convenient public transportation system.

Meanwhile, Koreans are expected to spend less during this Chuseok holiday than last year amid economic slowdown. A survey done by the country’s job portal site Saramin on 2,404 office workers found that they would spend 350,000 won ($289) on average for the holidays, down by 100,000 won from 450,000 won last year.

By Shin Ik-soo and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]