Japan and South Korea travel popular with Kiwis, Flight Centre reveals

Kiwi bookings to two destinations have “skyrocketed” thanks to a special event, Flight Centre reveals.

Bookings have almost doubled for trips to these spots between April 1 and 15 compared to March 1 to 15, the travel agency reported, adding that one major event is likely responsible.

So, where are Kiwis clamouring to get to this April?

If you know your botany, you may know April is spring-time in the Northern Hemisphere, which means one thing for Japan and South Korea - cherry blossom season.

That’s right, Kiwis seem eager to travel to Japan and South Korea to catch the world-famous pink blooms in all their glory.

Given how beautiful cherry blossoms are, Flight Centre New Zealand’s general manager Heidi Walker said the spike in bookings is no surprise.

“If you’ve ever seen cherry blossoms in full bloom, you’ll know how much they add to the beauty of Japan and South Korea, they really are spectacular,” she said.

The alignment with Easter and school holidays may also explain why bookings shot up in April but Walker said bookings this April were particularly high.

“Cherry-blossom season is always the most popular time to travel to Japan and South Korea, though this year the interest has been unprecedented,” she said, adding that bookings to Japan are already 65 per cent higher compared to the year prior.

Walker believed cheap flights and favourable exchange rates have made the destination especially appealing.

“We’ve had some sharp airfares come to market, including a Flight Centre deal last year which could get you from Auckland to Tokyo return from $999,” she said, adding that the weaker yen means Kiwis can get “more back for your buck”.

South Korea is also gaining interest and Walker predicts it will be popular with younger travellers.

This hunch seems to be shared by Contiki, a tour company for 18-35-year-olds, which recently launched a South Korea tour, which has been selling out.

“Demand was unreal – the first tour sold out in a matter of weeks and all other 2024 departures are already 75-100 per cent full,” Walker said.

South Korea is less familiar to Kiwis than Japan but this may be a reason why young Kiwis are eager to visit.

According to a December survey commissioned by Flight Centre, 73 per cent of Kiwi Gen Z and Millennials rated destination uniqueness as an important factor when booking a holiday. The only factor more important than this was cost savings and deals (75 per cent).

“Our younger customers are telling us that when it comes to long-haul travel, they don’t all want to do the usual UK/Europe OE,” Walker said.