The Asia Pacific market has gone through some rapid growth in pockets and also followed a familiar trend of consolidation. It has also seen a few regional players establishing a wider global footprint. Here are some of the key players in South Korea and a high-level overview of the markets they work with.
OTAs play a leading role in the South Korean online travel market. Roughly two-thirds of leisure travellers typically use an OTA for flight/hotel shopping and just under half typically book via an OTA. (Source: Phocuswright)
If you are looking to tap into travellers from South Korea, it will be worth considering them – however, many of them will not be easy to reach out to with language barriers and methods of operation if you are based outside the region.
Yanolja
Yanolja means “hey let’s play”. Offers online booking for 20,000 lodgings in South Korea including hotels and B & B’s. Mobile app HOTELnow offers reservation services up to 30 days beforehand with 2,000 partners all over South Korea. It also runs its own chain of 200 properties in the country and provides a software platform for third-party distribution. This has been enhanced through the recent acquisition of eZee Technosys in India. Received investment from Booking Holdings in 2019.
Related company/ies: Booking Holdings, Zenrooms, eZee Technosys
Key markets: South Korea
Daily Hotel
Started in 2013, last-minute curated deals personalised through analysis of big data.
Related company/ies: NA
Key markets: South Korea
Hana Tour
Possibly the biggest OTA in South Korea as part of a wider travel conglomerate founded in 1993. http://www.nextour.co.kr/ (international) and http://www.webtour.com (domestic)
Related company/ies: Nextour, Webtour
Key markets: South Korea, China
Privia travel
One of South Korea’s fastest-growing travel brands “Privia Travel” which operates an online travel mall for premium card members. Parent company Tidesquare also offers wholesale distribution as well as corporate travel services.
Related company/ies: Tidesquare
Key markets: South Korea
Mode Tour
Korean travel consortium with online and offline travel proposition. One of the early travel companies in South Korea founded in 1989 with a wholesale model.
Related company/ies: http://www.jautour.com/
Key markets: South Korea, China, South-East Asia
DR Travel
A well-established OTA in South Korea with offering a wide range of Asian destinations.
Related company/ies: NHN Travel Corp
Key markets: South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, China, Europe
Online Tour
A leading OTA in South Korea.
Related company/ies: NA
Key markets: South Korea, Taiwan, China, Europe
MyRealTrip
Well-funded leading tours and activities startup in South Korea.
Related company/ies: NA
Key markets: South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
