Yanolja Research

Curious About How an Unbalanced Air Network  Creates Tourism Blind Spots? Take a look at the summary below  ⬇️ Korea’s inbound tourism continues to show  a chronic concentration in the capital region. As shown in the graph above, about 73% of all international visitors in 2024   entered the country through Incheon and Gimpo airports  — both located in the Seoul metropolitan area. This capital-centric tourism flow has been identified as one of the key barriers  to the growth of Korea’s tourism industry . Understanding the structure of air service supply is crucial,  and the route patterns of three Northeast Asian countries  — Japan, China, and Taiwan — are especially noteworthy. The proportion of domestic vs. foreign airlines  differs significantly across these countries.  For example, in Japan routes, Korean carriers dominate ,  which could restrict air access for foreign travelers .🥲 📈Over the past decade, Korean low-cost ca...

 Introducing the Yanolja Attractiveness Index What makes a city truly irresistible to travelers? The Yanolja Attractiveness Index, developed through global academic-industry collaboration, offers a fresh perspective on the world’s most captivating cities—based not on tourist counts, but on what people feel and perceive. Source: Yanolja Research In the latest rankings, Osaka, Japan claims the top spot as the most attractive global tourism city, followed by Paris, Kyoto, New York, and Seoul. Source: Yanolja Research Japan stands out with six cities in the Top 20, showcasing its rich blend of culture, hospitality, and experiential content. Meanwhile, South Korea shines with Seoul (5th), Jeju (16th), and Busan (23rd) ranked among the top 30. What Is the Yanolja Attractiveness Index? The Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index —developed by Yanolja Research , in collaboration with Purdue University CHRIBA and Kyung Hee University Center for H&T Analytics —is a data-driven tool tha...

 🧭 Discover the World’s Most Attractive Tourism Cities: Launch of the Yanolja Attractiveness Index Website We are pleased to announce the official launch of the Yanolja Attractiveness Index website, a new destination for exploring the Global Tourism City Attractiveness Index —developed by Yanolja Research in collaboration with Purdue University CHRIBA and Kyung Hee University Center for H&T Analytics . This global index offers a data-driven and theory-based evaluation of tourism cities around the world, measuring their attractiveness through both emotional (affective) and perceptual (cognitive) dimensions. It captures how positively cities are emotionally experienced by tourists (Attractiveness) and how widely known or prominent they are (Reputation). 🔍 What Is Tourism City Attractiveness? Tourism City Attractiveness refers to the combination of psychological and perceptual factors that influence a tourist’s decision to visit a city. The concept builds on foundationa...

Unlocking Regional Skies: Key Insights for the Future of Northeast Asian Air Travel Rapid Recovery, Persistent Imbalances Inbound tourism to Korea has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, with 2024 welcoming approximately 16.37 million international visitors—a 93.5% recovery rate from 2019. However, the vast majority of foreign travelers still enter through Seoul’s Incheon and Gimpo airports (about 73%), while regional airports account for only 15.1% of arrivals. This highlights a continued imbalance, with most tourism activity concentrated in the capital region. Air Network Dynamics: Who Flies Where? Korean airlines dominate international routes, operating nearly 67% of all scheduled flights, particularly on routes to Japan and Taiwan. Foreign airline participation is highest on China routes, where Chinese carriers operate over 60% of flights. This contrasts sharply with Japan routes, where Korean carriers handle over 90% of flights. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have rapidly expanded, ...

 What Makes a City Memorable? Key Insights from Northeast Asia’s Tourism Landscape Discover what sets Northeast Asia’s leading cities apart in the eyes of travelers from around the world. Our latest analysis dives deep into the tourism offerings of Seoul, Busan, Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Kaohsiung, using real-time data from TripAdvisor to reveal what makes each city truly unforgettable. Tourism as a Driver of City Identity Tourism is more than just an economic force—it shapes the very image and identity of cities. Northeast Asia’s major cities are not only competing for visitor numbers but also for the quality and memorability of the experiences they offer. How Cities Build Their Tourism Portfolios Tokyo and Beijing lead in the sheer number of tourism products, offering the broadest range of experiences. Seoul and Taipei focus on affordability and accessibility, making them attractive to a wide spectrum of travelers. Kaohsiung stands out for its premium pric...

The first quarter of 2025 marked a turning point for Korea’s tourism industry, with both inbound and outbound travel reaching new milestones. Here’s a concise overview of the most important trends and findings. Inbound Tourism: Record Numbers, New Challenges Highest-Ever Visitor Numbers Revenue Lagging Behind Asia Leads, but Recovery Is Uneven Structural Shifts Changing Visitor Mix Duty-Free Sales Down Outbound Tourism: Robust Growth and Spending Travel Abroad Nearly Back to Normal Top Destinations Spending Rebounds Widening Tourism Deficit Looking Forward: Unlocking Regional Potential Regional Airports as a Growth Engine Focus on High-Value Tourism Discover More These highlights only scratch the surface of Korea’s evolving tourism landscape. For deeper insights, detailed data, and expert perspectives, visit the official website. Yanolja Research Brief Vol.8