Busan nears 4 mil. foreign visitor mark after beating 2025 total in 9 months
Long viewed as a scenic coastal secondary stop for international travelers venturing outside Seoul, Korea’s second-largest city is rapidly transforming into a standalone global destination. Driven by expanded direct flights, cruise traffic, and a surge in international visitors, Busan welcomed 3.93 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2026, the Busan Metropolitan Government said…
Busan, Korea’s second-largest city, is rapidly becoming a top global destination, attracting record numbers of foreign tourists. In the first nine months of 2026 alone, Busan welcomed 3.93 million international visitors, surpassing its total visitor count for the entire year of 2025, which stood at 3.64 million. According to the Busan Metropolitan Government, this surge positions the port city to surpass its annual goal of 4 million visitors well ahead of schedule.
This shift signifies a significant milestone in Korea’s broader efforts to diversify tourism beyond the capital city. While nationwide international arrivals increased by 21.5 percent over the same period, Busan experienced an impressive 47 percent rise, more than double the national growth rate. Unlike previous years when tourists usually arrived in Korea through Incheon International Airport before embarking on high-speed trains to Busan, travelers are now opting to bypass Seoul entirely.
A remarkable 63 percent of foreign visitors to Busan arrive directly at the city’s airport, signaling a growing trend and further contributing to the city's rapid rise as a sought-after global destination.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
