S. Korea bets on regional tourism to attract more foreign visitors

Korea is actively pursuing a strategy to attract 30 million foreign tourists, according to Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young. The government aims to shift its tourism focus from the capital city of Seoul to regional areas, according to a press conference in Seoul. Minister Chae emphasized that Korea is fully prepared to welcome 30 million visitors, with the potential to welcome 40 million in the future.

To ensure that regional tourism genuinely benefits local economies, the ministry is focusing on both the quantity and quality of inbound visitors, while actively addressing concerns about overtourism. The tourism sector in Korea is currently experiencing record-breaking growth, with foreign tourist arrivals surpassing the annual total of 18.94 million as of Tuesday.

Despite global challenges such as high oil prices, inflation, and the conflict in the Middle East, the ministry attributes this growth to the popularity of K-culture, industry innovation, and local hospitality.

To sustain this upward momentum, the government has increased its 2027 budget for the tourism sector to 1.756 trillion won, equivalent to $1.31 billion. This funding boost is part of the country's efforts to capitalize on the growing interest in Korean culture and to support local economies through the tourism industry.