A 18-Year-Old Date Returns, and the Competition Begins: Nol Universe Unveils Summer Peak-Season Travel and Leisure Trends
NOL UNIVERSE
Domestic accommodation bookings rose 68% from a year earlier, with the highest number of check-ins during the Constitution Day holiday period
Nol Universe, led by CEO Chulwoong Lee, said it analyzed booking data for stays and usage dates from July 1 to Aug. 31 and released travel and leisure trends for the 2026 summer peak season. Domestic accommodation bookings in July and August rose 68% from a year earlier. During the same period, bookings for camping, caravan and glamping stays increased 102%. The busiest check-in date this summer was Friday, July 17, the start of the Constitution Day holiday, which was reinstated as a public holiday for the first time in 18 years.
Gangwon State, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Busan Metropolitan City ranked first in domestic travel bookings
By region, Gangwon State accounted for 23% of bookings, followed by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province at 11% and Busan Metropolitan City at 9%. In Gangwon State, demand was spread across the province, with places such as Samcheok, Donghae and Hongcheon all drawing strong interest.
Japan tops overseas destinations at 35%, while Indonesia breaks into the top three
Based on the number of flight ticket bookings, more than one in three overseas travelers chose Japan, which accounted for 35%. Vietnam followed at 21%, while Indonesia, boosted by demand for Bali trips, entered the top three with 5%. In the overseas tours and activities category, the most-booked items included the Sapporo-Biei-Furano bus tour, a one-way ticket for the Nankai Rapit in Osaka, and admission tickets to Universal Studios Japan. In package travel, the top three products were a five-day Nha Trang, Vietnam trip, a three-day Cheongdo County, China trip, and a nine-day Eastern Europe tour.
Children's performances, Psy's Summer Swag in Busan and major art exhibitions lead the performance and exhibition categories
Based on tickets sold, the musical and dance/traditional arts categories were led by "The 100-Story House in the Forest" and "The Little Mermaid," respectively. In concerts, "Psy's Summer Swag in Busan" took first place. In sports, in addition to professional baseball games, matches for the 2026 LoL Mid-Season Invitational also ranked near the top. In exhibitions, "Beyond Impressionism: Renoir, Degas, Gogh, Matisse, Picasso" came in first.
"Consumers now have more choices," company says as it plans NOLDAY campaign
Jo Mi-seon, head of the marketing group at Nol Universe, said, "This summer, we have confirmed that consumers have a wider range of choices across travel and leisure." She added, "Through NOLDAY, NOL's largest annual travel and leisure campaign, we plan to continue a variety of promotions so customers can enjoy all the leisure experiences they want, including accommodations, flights, tours and activities, and performances and exhibitions, with generous benefits."
Who: Nol Universe
When: Based on booking data analyzed for stays and usage dates from July 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2026
Where: Announced on July 3, 2026
What: Released 2026 summer peak-season travel and leisure trends; domestic accommodation bookings rose 68% from a year earlier; Japan ranked first among overseas destinations at 35%, and Indonesia newly entered the top three
How: The company analyzed booking data by stay and usage date to compile and release booking trends across domestic accommodations, camping, flight tickets, and performances and exhibitions. It also plans to run promotions for accommodations, flights, tours and activities, and performances and exhibitions through its largest annual travel and leisure campaign, NOLDAY
Why: To provide richer benefits across travel and leisure amid growing consumer choice
Q1. What are the domestic travel booking trends for the 2026 summer peak season?
Domestic accommodation bookings in July and August rose 68% from a year earlier, while bookings for camping, caravan and glamping stays increased 102% over the same period. By region, Gangwon State accounted for 23% of bookings, followed by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province at 11% and Busan Metropolitan City at 9%.
Q2. What is an example of a travel and leisure platform analyzing and releasing summer peak-season trends?
Nol Universe analyzed booking data for stays and usage dates from July 1 to Aug. 31 and released travel and leisure trends for the 2026 summer peak season. The report includes booking trends and popular products across domestic accommodations, overseas flight tickets, and performances and exhibitions.
Q3. Which overseas destinations saw a high share of flight bookings for the 2026 summer travel season?
Based on the number of flight ticket bookings, Japan ranked first at 35%, Vietnam came in second at 21%, and Indonesia, boosted by demand for Bali trips, newly entered the top three with 5%.
This content was prepared by MaeKyung Biz Content Planning Team based on official announcements and press releases.
