logo
Agoda Ranks Seoul 3rd in "Top Destinations for Slow Travel in Asia"

Agoda Ranks Seoul 3rd in "Top Destinations for Slow Travel in Asia"

Korea Herald29-05-2025
- Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese stay longest in Seoul, while Korean travelers prefer slow travel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia
SEOUL, South Korea, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda reveals that Seoul is gaining attention as a leading destination in Asia for "slow travel." Slow travel is a travel trend that emphasizes staying in one city or location for an extended period to fully relax and immerse in a destination, allowing time to create meaningful connections with its culture, cuisine, and people, rather than following jam-packed itineraries in a short time.
Based on average length of stay for accommodation bookings made between January and March 2025 on Agoda, Seoul ranked third among the top nine destinations for slow travel in Asia. Rayong (Thailand), took the top spot, followed by Kalegowa (Indonesia), Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Nha Trang (Vietnam), Boracay Island (Philippines), Taipei (Taiwan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and Chennai (India).
Japanese travelers were the top visitors for a slow travel experience in Seoul for the past two consecutive years, followed by Chinese and Taiwanese travelers. China rose one rank from third place last year to second this year.
In addition to Seoul, Busan and Jeju have emerged as the top destinations for extended stays within South Korea. Meanwhile, the most popular overseas destinations for slow travel among travelers from South Korea were Johor Bahru (Malaysia), followed by Pattaya (Thailand) and Angeles City (Philippines).
Jay Lee, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda, said, "In a world that often feels like it's on fast-forward, slow travel offers the perfect opportunity to hit pause and connect with the places you visit. In South Korea, destinations like Seoul, Busan, and Jeju are perfect for leisurely adventure, offering a delightful mix of coastal charm, delicious cuisine, and captivating local experiences. At Agoda, we're thrilled to support this laid-back travel style by offering fantastic deals on accommodations and activities that let you take it easy and savor every moment."
With over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, Agoda makes it simple to plan a slow travel adventure. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals to start planning a leisurely getaway.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Art tour to Arles: where ancient legacies fuel contemporary creativity
Art tour to Arles: where ancient legacies fuel contemporary creativity

Korea Herald

time8 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Art tour to Arles: where ancient legacies fuel contemporary creativity

Explore cultural gems in the southern French city ARLES, France — Located on the banks of the Rhone River in southern France, the city of Arles has witnessed over 2,000 years of history and was once a crucial spot for military movement and commerce in Roman times. Home to a population of 53,000, Arles is full of cultural gems. From traces of Vincent Van Gogh to remnants of structures built under Julius Caesar during its time as a Roman colony, visitors to Arles often feel as though they are discovering hidden treasures when exploring the city. In recent years, Arles has flourished as a hub for contemporary art. LUMA Arles, a cutting-edge art center built on a 19th century industrial site, opened in 2021, while Lee Ufan Arles, a museum dedicated to the minimalist works of the eponymous Korean artist, opened in 2022. Those who want to explore the history of the city and the Provence region can head to the Museon Arlaten, which covers local social and cultural life, such as the traditional Arlesian costume. The 15th century buildings housing the museum were constructed on the site of a secondary Roman forum built in the first century AD and later functioned as a municipal school in the 19th century, according to the museum. The vestiges of the Roman forum were unearthed and inaugurated as a museum in 1909. Other remnants of the ancient empire in Arles include a well-preserved Roman amphitheater and Roman thermal baths. Anyone familiar with Vincent van Gogh's work will recognize parts of the city from some of his most iconic paintings: 'The Starry Night,' 'Cafe Terrace at Night,' 'Van Gogh's Chamber in Arles' and his famous sunflower paintings. Each of these was painted during his stay in the city — from 1888 to 1889 — when he moved there in search of warmer weather and golden sunlight. Van Gogh created some 400 paintings in less than two years before leaving for Saint-Remy-de-Provence to stay in an asylum following a nervous breakdown. It was in Arles where the artist cut off a part of his left ear out of despair after Paul Gauguin, with whom Van Gogh had been working at the time, left the city after an argument between the two. A hospital in Arles where Van Gogh was once admitted is now a cultural center named "Espace Van Gogh." Its courtyard full of flowers and the pond remain just as the artist depicted them in his paintings. The cafe seen in the background of the popular painting 'Cafe Terrace at Night' is unfortunately closed for now due to legal issues, according to people familiar with the city. Some say Arles has a 'guilt complex' about Van Gogh because its residents did not recognize his greatness. In tribute to the master, however, the city built the Foundation Vincent Van Gogh Arles, which houses at least one original Van Gogh painting in partnership with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. When The Korea Herald visited the foundation on July 6, it had two of his paintings on display — 'Peasant and Peasant Woman Planting Potatoes' and 'Basket of Potatoes' — alongside the retrospective of German artist Sigmar Polke (1941-2010). The exhibition 'Beneath the Cobblestones, the Earth' runs until Oct. 26 and brings together Polke's expansive works of art and draws a symbolic link between the two masters through the motif of the potato. The foundation offers a combined ticket with entry to the LUMA Arles priced at 17 euros ($20) until December, according to the foundation's website. LUMA Arles is a hotspot for art lovers around the world. The contemporary art institute stands as an homage to Van Gogh with its iconic building, The Tower, designed by Frank Gehry. The museum is expected to draw crowds year-round -- not just in summer for the renowned Arles Photo festival -- according to LUMA CEO Arles Mustapha Bouhayati. In July, the museum opened seven massive contemporary art exhibitions featuring leading figures in the scene: Singapore's Ho Tzu Nyen, Egypt's Wael Shawky, Switzerland's Peter Fischli, Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets, American photographer David Armstrong, interdisciplinary studio EBB in collaboration with American artist Tony Oursler, and South Korea's Koo Jeong-a. Another art destination in Arles, Lee Ufan Arles, is a space dedicated to a wide variety of works by the Korea-born artist Lee Ufan. The building is rather understated, built between the 16th and 18th centuries as a private mansion, and can be easily missed with only a small sign to guide you. The space is home to Lee's installations and paintings, including 'Relatum — The Stage' and 'Relatum — Infinity of the vessel,' which offer viewers a chance to meditate and focus on oneself while appreciating his art. Lee Ufan Arles is the artist's third museum, following spaces in Naoshima, Japan, and Busan, South Korea. The artist is known for leading the avant-garde Mono-ha movement in Japan in the late 1960s to 1970s, which delved into the relationships between materials and perceptions. Lee was born in Korea in 1936 and lives and works in Paris, New York and Japan. If you happen to visit Arles on a Wednesday or Saturday, you're in luck. On these days, a bustling market comes to life with hundreds of stalls offering a wide variety of local goods and foods — olives, cheeses, fresh fruits, meats and more. For some, the market scenery might bring to mind Van Gogh's 'Caravans, Gypsy Camp near Arles" (1888), leading you to imagine how the city has evolved over the past 200 years and how life there has changed. A note on the painting shown at the Orsay Museum in Paris reads: 'Since his arrival in Arles, (Van Gogh) had been very enthusiastic about the multiplicity of subjects available to him as he explored the area. A small gypsy camp caught his attention due to its contrasting colors and the peaceful atmosphere conveyed by the scene."

Actor Park Bo-gum new face of Korea tourism
Actor Park Bo-gum new face of Korea tourism

Korea Herald

time12 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Actor Park Bo-gum new face of Korea tourism

Following BTS, Lee Jung-jae and NewJeans, Park joins Korea's tourism efforts as honorary ambassador Actor Park Bo-gum has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for 2025 Korea Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. A teaser video for the upcoming global promotional campaign was unveiled on the ministry's official YouTube channel 'Imagine Your Korea,' revealing Park as the new face of Korean tourism. The ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization have consistently tapped top-tier Hallyu stars to front their annual campaigns — BTS in 2022, Lee Jung-jae in 2023 and NewJeans in 2024. Park, widely loved for his nuanced acting, most recently in the Netflix hit 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' will now lead efforts to promote Korea abroad over the next year. As global travelers increasingly seek personalized, emotionally resonant journeys rather than conventional sightseeing, this year's campaign encourages visitors to take charge in their own Korean travel stories. In the teaser clip, Park extends an invitation, asking, 'Will you be the main character of this story?' The message kicks off the 'Never Ending Korea' campaign, aimed at showcasing the country's charms and immersive travel experiences. The ministry and the tourism authority will officially appoint Park as the ambassador on Tuesday and unveil two campaign films along with a behind-the-scenes clip. The ads -- produced in the style of a short film and music video -- feature both Park's real-life persona and an alter ego. Adding to his involvement, Park also recorded the campaign's official theme song, 'On My Way,' composed and written by KZLAB, a team led by renowned K-pop producer Kenzie of SM Entertainment. The song will be released Thursday on major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Melon. In collaboration with Netflix, the ministry has also produced tourism-themed videos inspired by global Korean hits 'Squid Game' and 'All of Us Are Dead.' The 'Squid Game' version, titled 'Escape to Korea — Better Run,' has drawn more than 8.4 million views since its release on July 3. The 'All of Us Are Dead' campaign video, 'Escape to Korea — Better Together,' is slated for release on Aug. 7. According to Netflix, 72 percent of Korean content viewers expressed interest in visiting Korea, nearly double the 37 percent among non-viewers. 'More than 85 percent of this year's eight campaign videos were filmed outside Seoul, emphasizing hidden gems and lesser-known destinations in a bid to boost regional tourism,' a ministry official said in a statement. As part of efforts to support regional tourism, the campaign also includes theme ads spotlighting the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, which suffered recent setbacks due to natural disasters and transportation incidents. The Gyeongsang video, 'Where Energy Never Sleeps,' focuses on Gyeongju, the host city for the upcoming APEC summit, while the Jeolla provinces' 'Where Beauty Moves Hearts' highlights the region's artistic allure through music and dance. The campaign videos will be screened on landmark billboards in 16 major cities including New York's Times Square, Tokyo, Beijing and Bangkok through November. Additional promotions will run across YouTube and Netflix, targeting over 20 key global tourism markets.

Agoda Ranks Asia's Most Affordable Summer Destinations for Hoteliers to Manage Yields from Deals
Agoda Ranks Asia's Most Affordable Summer Destinations for Hoteliers to Manage Yields from Deals

Korea Herald

time14 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

Agoda Ranks Asia's Most Affordable Summer Destinations for Hoteliers to Manage Yields from Deals

Surabaya tops the list for value-driven travelers based on the lowest average room rates across Asia's top destinations SINGAPORE, July 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With value-driven travel gaining momentum across Asia, digital travel platform Agoda revealed its rankings of Asia's most affordable summer destinations led by Surabaya, Indonesia where average room rates are $35 per night*. This presents hoteliers with new opportunities to capture sustained demand and maximize returns even when offering competitive deals. Other top-value destinations include Tirupati (India), Hat Yai (Thailand), Dalat (Vietnam), Iloilo (Philippines), Kuching (Malaysia), Nagoya (Japan), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), and Daejeon (South Korea). Affordability is shaping summer travel choices This value-driven mindset is especially pronounced among millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly prioritizing affordability in their summer travel plans. Both demographics share similar habits when it comes to budgeting for travel, particularly for accommodation. More than half of Gen Z travelers (56%) aim to keep their nightly stay below USD 50 per person, a preference that's also common among millennials, though at a slightly lower rate (44%). Beyond price, these younger travelers are also seeking experiences that offer meaningful value, making affordable yet enriching destinations especially appealing. Yield management opportunities accommodation partners can benefit from Affordability doesn't necessarily mean lower yields. Using Agoda's dynamic pricing and tech solutions, hoteliers can look to capitalize on different types of traveler demand as well as upsell local experiences and bundle value-added services. For example, partners can create summer budget packages that combine multi-location room rates with curated activities such as food tours or cultural excursions, increasing both booking value and guest satisfaction. Offering flexible cancellation policies and diverse payment options can better position hoteliers to meet the expectations of today's digitally savvy travelers. This approach is likely to become increasingly relevant as online sales are projected to account for 75% of Asia's travel revenue by 2029, according to Statista. Alongside catering to budget travel, hoteliers and accommodation partners can turn Agoda's data-driven insights into tangible strategies that boost bookings and drive revenue by tapping into other key motivators – culinary experiences and solo adventures: "Today's travelers are increasingly prioritizing value-driven experiences, particularly among younger, price-conscious demographics," said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply, Agoda. "For hotels and airlines, this presents a powerful opportunity to engage guests across the full travel journey by delivering personalized, data-informed value that drives both loyalty and repeat bookings." Agoda's data-driven approach gives accommodation partners the tools to move beyond simply offering the "best deals." Offering dynamic pricing, packaging, and targeted marketing on the Agoda platform can help partners turn demand for affordable destinations into higher yields and stronger guest loyalty. With over 5 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda provides endless possibilities for creating unforgettable travel experiences.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store