S.Korea in June sets post-COVID-19 monthly high in foreign visitors

The jump of 322% was led by Japanese but Taiwanese had the highest increase rate

S.Korea in June sets post-COVID-19 monthly high in foreign visitors
Mi-Kyoung Lee 1
2023-07-28 14:35:54 capital@hankyung.com
Travel & Leisure

The (South) Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) on Friday said 961,000 foreign visitors came to the country last month, a 321.9% jump from June last year.

This was the highest number of monthly visitors after COVID-19, recovering to 65% of the June 2019 level.

The number in the first half of the year was 4,431,000, or 52.5% of that in the same period of 2019.

By nationality, Japanese held the top spot with 197,000 last month, an amazing leap of 3,256%.

Chinese were second with 168,000, up 1,219%, and Americans third with 121,000, up 119%.

Fourth was Taiwanese with 97,000, an insane 9,559% jump from June last year as the island country ranked first in the rate of growth.

“Europe and the Americas are showing a recovery rate of 95% of 2019 levels,” a KTO source said. “China since May has seen rapid recovery of an over 10-fold margin from last year.”

The number of South Koreans going overseas last month was 1,772,000, up 329% year on year to reach 71% of its June 2019 level.

The outbound traveler figure in the year’s first half was 9,931,000, or 66% of that in the same period of 2019.

Write to Mi-Kyoung Lee at capital@hankyung.com
#Korea #foreign visitors #post-COVID-19 #Japanese #Chinese #Americans #Taiwanese

Yanolja looks to triple foreign visitors to Korea with K-culture tours

Yanolja looks to triple foreign visitors to Korea with K-culture tours

A foreign tourist in Seoul in September 2022 (File photo) South Korea’s top travel and accommodation platform Yanolja Co. aims to nearly treble the number of foreign tourists to the country through its subsidiary Interpark Triple by introducing tailored package tour programs combined with

Japanese travelers top list of reservations to visit Seoul during BTS Festa

Japanese travelers top list of reservations to visit Seoul during BTS Festa

Myeong-dong, one of the primary shopping disrtricts in Seoul (Hankyung DB) Trip.com, a South Korean travel platform, announced on Wednesday that the most frequent overseas travelers to Seoul during the “BTS Festa” commemorating the 10th anniversary of the group's debut (from June 12

Seoul is fourth most searched global city for summer travel: survey

Seoul is fourth most searched global city for summer travel: survey

Tourists at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul (Courtesy of Yonhap) The South Korean capital of Seoul is surging in global popularity as a summer travel destination amid the first peak summer season since COVID-19 went endemic worldwide, according to a survey. The Amsterdam, Netherlands-based hotel res

S.Korean's interest in Japan travel surpasses pre-No Japan levels

S.Korean's interest in Japan travel surpasses pre-No Japan levels

Dotonbori area in Osaka, Japan A survey result indicates an increased interest in travel to Japan compared to pre-No Japan boycott levels, while interest in travel to China has plummeted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. South Korea's consumer research company Consumer Insight revealed thes

SE Asian visitors revive Seoul’s tourism industry

SE Asian visitors revive Seoul’s tourism industry

The Myeongdong shopping district was crowded with tourists on May 14 In Myeongdong, Seoul’s shopping mecca, on May 14, street vendors were busy soliciting foreign tourists, greeting them in their mother tongues from Thai to Vietnamese and Arabic.“Southeast Asian shoppers had hesitat

Number of travelers on S.Korea's LCCs jumped 104-fold in Q1

Number of travelers on S.Korea's LCCs jumped 104-fold in Q1

Demand for overseas flights in South Korea has exploded since the resumption of air travel operations amid the substantial easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) are raising the number of chartered international flights and conducting aggressive marketing by using n

S.Korean Airlines increase flights in anticipation of travel boom

S.Korean Airlines increase flights in anticipation of travel boom

Korea's airlines busy responding to rising traveler numbers South Korean airlines launched extensive marketing activities such as increasing international flights and giving free tickets in preparation for more travelers in the year-end and New Year holidays. Asiana Airlines Inc. said on T

Seoul to lure visitors with themed tours, video featuring BTS

Seoul to lure visitors with themed tours, video featuring BTS

Olympic Bridge over the Han River in Seoul (Courtesy of Seoul Tourism Organization) Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is kickstarting efforts to attract foreign visitors with new tour programs and a promotional video featuring the K-pop idol group BTS.The video to be released will show the boy
(* comment hide *}