[Edaily Kang Gyeong-rok Travel Reporter] The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea this year has surpassed last year’s all-time high more than two months ahead of schedule. If this trend continues, it is virtually certain that the country will surpass the milestone of “20 million annual foreign tourists” for the first time in history next month.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 27th that the cumulative number of foreign tourists visiting Korea this year is estimated to have surpassed last year’s annual record (18.94 million). As of the 26th, the provisional tally stood at 18.91 million; considering the average daily arrivals (64,000), the previous record was surpassed on that day.

The growth in the number of tourists visiting Korea is outpacing that of major competitor countries. From January to September of this year, the number of foreign visitors to Korea reached 17.11 million, a 21.5% increase compared to the same period last year (14.08 million). During the same period, Japan (-2.9%) and Thailand (-3.8%) experienced negative growth, while Vietnam (14.5%) also lagged behind Korea’s growth rate.
Tourists from China and Taiwan drove the overall growth. The number of Chinese visitors to South Korea through September reached 5.47 million, a sharp 29.2% increase compared to the same period last year, while the number of Taiwanese tourists also rose by 32.4% to 1.86 million. Visitors from major countries around the world, including Japan (3.12 million, up 16.9%) and Europe and the Americas (3.07 million, up 15.1%), as well as Indonesia (up 23.4%) and the Philippines (up 15.6%), all saw an increase.
Analysts attribute this to the synergy created by the K-content boom, combined with aggressive marketing efforts by both the government and the private sector, such as the expansion of airline routes and the relaxation of visa requirements.
In addition to quantitative growth, spending also increased significantly. From January through September, domestic credit card spending by foreign visitors totaled 15.9 trillion won, a 47.7% increase compared to the same period last year (10.8 trillion won). This marks the highest figure for this period since relevant statistics began being compiled in 2018.
By expenditure category, shopping accounted for the largest share at 37.0%, followed by lodging (19.6%) and healthcare and wellness (16.6%). Growth in the healthcare and wellness sector—which includes spending on cosmetics and makeup—was particularly notable.
Visitor traffic to regional areas is also improving. From January through September, the number of visitors entering the country via airports and seaports outside the Seoul metropolitan area reached 4.82 million, an increase of 1.08 million compared to the previous year. The proportion of total visitors entering through non-metropolitan areas rose by 1.7 percentage points to 28.2%. Based on mobile network data, the number of visits by foreign tourists to regional areas also increased by 19.7% to 64.72 million.

The government forecasts that cumulative tourist arrivals will surpass 20 million in the third week of November and that the initial target of 23 million will be achieved by the end of the year. Furthermore, the government has set attracting 30 million foreign tourists as its next goal and plans to implement structural reforms to prepare for an era of 40 million visitors.
Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, “Reaching 23 million tourists by the end of the year is now within reach,” adding, “Going forward, we will focus our efforts not only on quantitative growth in tourist numbers but also on qualitative improvements, such as revitalizing regional tourism.”