The Republic of Korea witnessed a significant surge in foreign tourist arrivals during the first seven months of this year, with 9.11 million visitors recorded, marking a 66.8 percent increase from the same period last year. This surge underscores the country’s growing appeal as a travel destination as it rebounds from the global pandemic. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), July alone saw 1.41 million foreign tourists, representing a 30 percent increase compared to the same month in the previous year. This figure also indicates a near-full recovery to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 97 percent of the tourist numbers seen in July 2019.
China led the way in the number of tourists visiting Korea, with 459,000 arrivals in July. Japan followed with 243,000 visitors, while Taiwan and the United States contributed 143,000 and 121,000 tourists, respectively. These numbers reflect a robust recovery in travel between these nations and South Korea. In particular, the number of visitors from Taiwan and the United States saw significant growth, with increases of 25.6 percent and 24.1 percent, respectively, compared to July 2019. This growth highlights the strengthening of travel ties and increasing interest in South Korea as a prime destination.
Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from China and Japan, two of Korea’s largest sources of international visitors, have nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. Chinese and Japanese tourists recovered to 88 percent of the levels seen in the same period in 2019, indicating strong and enduring travel demand from these neighboring countries. The KTO’s data points to a robust recovery in South Korea’s tourism sector, as it continues to regain its status as a major destination for international travelers, building on its pre-pandemic popularity. With the summer season drawing to a close, South Korea’s tourism industry remains optimistic about sustaining this momentum and welcoming even more visitors in the remaining months of the year.