Korea has surpassed 10 million foreign arrivals this year, according to a provisional tally from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism released Wednesday. The 10 million benchmark is reached about a month earlier than last year—when the country hit the milestone in mid-July—and is the first time it occurs within the first half of the year. The ministry also reports a strong rebound in inbound travel, with 1.95 million visitors recorded in May, up 19.4% from the previous year. In May, Chinese tourists account for the largest share (560,000), followed by Japanese (360,000) and Americans (210,000), with visitors from Taiwan at 190,000. Sources also note that the increase is not limited to the capital region, as entries through regional airports rise from around 230,000 in January to about 360,000 in May. Foreign visitors’ card spending in May, including online purchases, totals about 2.12 trillion won, marking the first time monthly spending exceeds 2 trillion won since data tracking began in January 2018. The reported spending figure also shows a sharp year-on-year increase compared with May 2023.
Korea welcomes over 10 million foreign visitors, reaching milestone earlier than last year
Korea has surpassed 10 million foreign arrivals this year, according to a provisional tally from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism released Wednesday. The 10 million benchmark is reached abo...
- Korea records more than 10 million foreign arrivals in 2024, based on a tourism ministry provisional tally.
- The 10 million milestone occurs about a month earlier than in 2023, when it was reached in mid-July.
- May arrivals total 1.95 million, up 19.4% year-on-year.
- In May, the largest visitor groups include Chinese (560,000), Japanese (360,000), Americans (210,000), and Taiwanese (190,000).
- Foreign visitors’ card spending in May reaches about 2.12 trillion won, including online purchases, exceeding 2 trillion won for the first time in monthly data tracking.
Driven by a robust influx of visitors from across Asia, Europe and the Americas, Korea’s tourism recovery has accelerated to historic levels, reaching a pivotal milestone well ahead of projections. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that the total number of foreign tourists visiting the country this year has officially surpassed 10 million. The benchmark, passed over the weekend of June 20, arrived roughly a month faster than last year, when the country did not reach the same threshold until mid-July. The sudden acceleration in arrivals has provided a massive windfall for the domestic economy. In May alone, foreign credit card expenditures — including online transactions — skyrocketed to an estimated 2.12 trillion won ($1.53 billion), according to data released by the state-run Korea Tourism Organization. The figure marks the first time since data tracking began in January 2018 that monthly foreign tourist spending has crossed the 2 trillion won threshold, registering a staggering 67.1 percent increase compared to May of last year. "Despite headwinds, such a
17 hours agoKorea has welcomed more than 10 million foreign visitors so far this year, a provisional tally by the tourism ministry showed Wednesday, suggesting the country may be headed for a new annual high. Foreign arrivals exceeded 10 million during the third weekend of this month, about a month earlier than last year, when the mark was reached in mid-July, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It is the first time the figure has been achieved within the first half of any year. Inbound travel has rebounded strongly, with 1.95 million visitors recorded in May alone, up 19.4 percent from a year earlier. Chinese tourists made up the largest share in May at 560,000, followed by Japanese at 360,000 and Americans at 210,000. Travelers from Taiwan reached 190,000. Officials also pointed to a growing spread of visitors beyond the capital region. Entries through regional airports rose steadily from 230,000 in January to 360,000 in May. Foreign visitors' card spending in May, including online purchases, totaled 2.12 trillion won (US$1.38 billion), the first time monthly spending has exce
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