SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s ambitious goal of attracting 20 million foreign tourists in 2024 faces setbacks amid political upheaval, including recent martial law declaration and the impeachment of the president, tourism officials and industry experts say.
While daily life for locals remains largely unaffected, the uncertainty has spooked international visitors, raising concerns about safety.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reported a considerable drop in foreign visitors in early December compared to the same period last year. Among the most high-profile cancellations were a Japanese school group and a planned visit by a Saudi prince.
Tourism experts warn the slowdown in new bookings could stretch into the spring of 2025.
“Current cancellation rates aren’t yet alarming, but the real issue lies in the significant decline in new bookings,” said an official with the Korea Hotel Association. The hardest-hit establishments are midrange business hotels, particularly those reliant on group tours, the official noted.
Despite the challenges, South Korea had seen promising recovery trends earlier this year. Between January and October, 13.74 million foreign visitors arrived, marking a 54.7 percent increase from the previous year and reaching 94 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
In response to the downturn, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched an aggressive marketing campaign to mitigate the impact. A public-private tourism task force has been established, and officials are emphasizing safety and stability in messaging across international platforms.
“We view the current situation as a temporary shock,” a ministry spokesperson said, adding that the government plans to implement “more aggressive marketing efforts” during the year-end holiday season and into early 2025 to reassure and attract foreign visitors.
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