South Korea bets on five regional airports to spread its tourism boom beyond Seoul

South Korea is seeking to boost its tourism industry beyond the capital city of Seoul by developing five new regional tourism hubs. In 2025, the country welcomed a record-breaking 18.9 million foreign visitors, up from the previous peak of 17.5 million in 2019. However, the majority of these visitors continue to flock to Seoul, particularly trendy neighborhoods like Itaewon and Seongsu-dong.

According to Daehyun Kim, South Korea’s vice minister of culture, sports, and tourism, only one-third of foreign visitors venture outside the capital region. To encourage tourists to explore local areas directly, Kim announced a plan to create five major tourism hubs around Gimhae, Daegu, Cheongju, Muan, and Yangyang regional airports.

By highlighting popular drama and movie filming locations, local festivals, and regional cuisine, Kim believes these hubs will offer unique tourism experiences that cannot be found in Seoul alone. Over the past 13 years, more than 1,400 tourism-related businesses have been established across 147 regions, benefiting from the tourism boom.

Similarly, other Asian countries are recognizing the potential in their secondary cities. In China, travelers are moving beyond traditional gateway cities like Beijing and Shanghai to destinations like Chengdu and Chongqing, which have gained popularity due to their distinct attractions and growing economies. Airlines are also capitalizing on this trend, with Malaysia-based Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes noting that secondary and tertiary cities offer untapped opportunities with high GDP growth and disposable incomes.