The South Korean government's goal of attracting 30 million inbound tourists is gaining momentum. Despite challenges such as high oil prices and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the number of foreign visitors to South Korea reached 203,000 in April, a 19% increase from 171,000 in the same month last year. Spending also rose, with foreign credit card expenditures reaching a record 1.9 trillion won in April, indicating that the growth in visitor numbers is translating into increased domestic consumption.
◆ K-Tourism Breaks Through Challenges: Cumulative 6.77 Million Visitors from January to April
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on May 21 that the cumulative number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea from January to April totaled 6.77 million, marking a 21% increase from 5.58 million during the same period last year. This follows a historic milestone in March when monthly arrivals exceeded 200,000 for the first time, achieving this level for two consecutive months.
Despite global challenges such as rising oil prices and increased fuel surcharges, travel plans booked before the Middle East crisis continued without significant disruption, allowing for strong April entry numbers.
The ministry attributes this success to the global spread of K-Culture, positioning South Korea as a prominent global tourism destination beyond Asia.
◆ Chinese and Japanese Tourists Lead, North American Visitors Join In
Analyzing the market, growth was observed across various regions, including China, Japan, and North America, without heavy reliance on any single country.
Chinese tourists accounted for 570,000 visitors (up 29.6%), making them the largest group, followed by Japanese tourists at 300,000 (up 17.9%), driving overall growth in the inbound tourism market. Additionally, steady inflows from Taiwan (190,000) and Hong Kong (70,000) contributed to the Chinese market, while North American (236,000) and European (182,000) visitors also added to the diversification of the market.
◆ Regional Airport Arrivals Jump 38%: Foreign Spending Hits Record 1.9 Trillion Won
The upward trend in inbound tourism is directly linked to qualitative growth. The distribution effect of foreign tourists across regions was evident, with 360,000 foreign visitors arriving through regional airports in April, a 38% increase from 260,000 in the same month last year. However, arrivals via regional ports decreased by 5.3% to 184,000 compared to the previous year.
Notably, tourists significantly increased their spending. In April alone, foreign tourists' credit card expenditures (including online purchases) in South Korea were estimated at approximately 1.9 trillion won, the highest since records began in January 2018.
The cumulative spending from January to April also reached about 6.997 trillion won, a 22.6% increase from the same period last year.
◆ Government's Comprehensive Efforts Targeting Tourism Promotion Act: Boosting Regional Tourism
The government has been conducting a comprehensive effort since the 11th National Tourism Strategy Meeting. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is making various efforts to improve regional tourism conditions, including expanding international routes at regional airports and supporting transfer services between Incheon and regional airports.
Kang Jeong-won, head of the ministry's tourism policy division, stated, "The appeal of K-Culture and government support for tourism have created a synergistic effect, allowing us to surpass 200,000 inbound tourists for two consecutive months despite challenging conditions like international oil prices. We will strive for consistent growth not only in numbers but also in regional visits and spending."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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