Language Needs of Korean Travelers to Japan

1
Language Needs of Korean Travelers to Japan

• To discover the actual situation and needs of
  Korean tourists to Japan
• To discern the hidden language needs of
  potential Korean tourists to Japan
• To determine the awareness of Koreans of Kumamoto

2
The Questionnaire

• Locations Taegu, Pusan, other
• Ages
• 19-24 32
• 25-29 44
• 30-39 12
• 40-49 9
• 50- 3

3
Part 1

• Actual Number of Korean tourists in Japan and
  Kumamoto
• Kumamotos increase of Korean tourists is over
  twice the national average

4
Have you been to Japan?
Do you want to visit Japan (again)?

• 60 of Koreans surveyed have been to Japan, and
  almost all (96) would like to go (again).
• Only 13 of Korean visitors have been to Kyushu,
  whereas 23 indicated they would like to go to
  Kyushu (again).

5
How do you like to travel?

• This, in spite of the fact that most Korean
  travelers to Kumamoto come by plane, (cf. 42500
  in 2004- 45300 in 2005) and most of these come
  on tours!

6
What do you like to do/see most when traveling?

• History, local food and nature rated highest.
  Good to know when planning advertising
  strategies!
• Shopping rated only 6.

7
What do you think the biggest difficulty would be
in traveling to Japan?

• Cost was the biggest factorgood for Kumamoto
  with its 3000-5000 yen business hotels and
  relatively cheap hot springs
• Between them, cost and language accounted for 71
  of the total.

8
Part II The hidden linguistic needs of
potential Korean tourists to Japan and Kumamoto
How is your language ability?

• Note the inverse trends
• Most people rated themselves as fair or poor at
  English
• Most people rated themselves as good or none at
  Japanese

9
What language(s) did you/would you expect to use
in Japan?

• Almost ½ of Korean visitors plan to use Japanese
  in Korea, but over ½ think they can use English
  a little

Do you think you can use English in Japan?
10
If Korean/English were used in advertising/menus,
would you be more likely to use the business?

• Advertising/literature in Korean is a key factor
  for over 85 of Korean tourists, but advertising
  in English will do for over half of the
  potential visitors.

11
Part III Awareness of Kumamoto in Korea

• Have you heard of Kumamoto ?
• Yes 67
• If so, where?

12
CONCLUSIONS

• Kumamoto, with its nature, history and unique
  food, should be appealing to Korean visitors
• More travellers should come to Kumamoto if
• 1. they know it is an inexpensive and attractive
  destination
• 2. they feel secure about the language
• Ability in Korean is a key factor, but ability in
  English will do for over half of the potential
  visitors.