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Record Tourists Flock to South Korea
16 Apr
Summary
- South Korea welcomed 2.06 million foreign visitors in March.
- Chinese visitors led foreign arrivals, with a 29% year-on-year increase.
- Tourism spending surged 23% to $2.18 billion in the first quarter.
South Korea recorded an unprecedented 2.06 million foreign visitors in March. This influx, largely driven by Chinese tourists, pushed first-quarter arrivals up by 23% to a record 4.76 million. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted the widespread appeal of Korean culture as a key factor.
Chinese visitors represented the largest group, with arrivals increasing by 29% year-on-year. Japanese and Taiwanese tourists also showed significant growth. This surge benefited regions outside of Seoul, with foreign credit card spending reaching 3.21 trillion won ($2.18 billion) for the quarter.
The comeback of global K-pop phenomenon BTS further stimulated the tourism sector. Foreign nationals attending BTS's initial concerts spent an estimated 55.5 billion won in South Korea between January 1 and April 12. This spending highlights the economic impact of cultural events on national tourism.
