Haeundae Beach in Busan, Korea, in July 2024. Yonhap
Courtesy of the Korea Tourism Organization
SEOUL, Sept. 5 (AJP) - The southern port city of Busan reported Wednesday a record 1.38 million foreign visitors in the first half of this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 1.32 million in 2019. This marks the highest number since the government began tracking foreign visitors in 1999.
Global accommodation reservation service Hotels.com ranks Busan as Korea’s second-most popular travel destination after Seoul. Known for its scenic coastline, vibrant culture, and diverse cuisine, the city continues to attract tourists seeking unique experiences.
Busan is on track to exceed three million foreign visitors by the end of the year, driven by major events like the Busan International Film Festival, targeted marketing, and distinctive attractions such as night tours and yacht activities.
Taiwanese tourists were the largest group, with 220,015 visitors, followed by Japan (210,000), China (190,310), the United States (108,664), and the Philippines (68,434). Taiwan climbed from third place in 2019 to first this year, aided by direct flights from Taipei to Busan.
This influx is a boost for Busan, which faces demographic challenges from an aging population. The percentage of residents aged 65 and older rose from 14.5 percent in 2015 to 21.3 percent in 2022, while many young people are moving to Seoul for better job prospects.
The surge in tourism is expected to stimulate the local economy and create jobs. In the first half of 2023, foreign visitor spending reached 288.2 billion won, up 169 percent from 2019 and 58 percent from the same period in 2022.
"In August, we announced our goal to reach 3 million foreign tourists by 2026. However, at this pace, we expect to surpass that goal by the end of this year," a Busan City official said.
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