Tourism in Korea
It was reported that foreign visitors to Korea passed the ten million mark one month earlier this year than last year.
According to the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute on November 26, 10.34 million foreigners have visited the country from January to October 2013. The figure for this year is a 9.3% year-on-year gain.
3.774 million Chinese tourists represent 36.5% of the total. 2.31 million Japanese people were the next largest tourist group that comprised 22.3%, down 24% from a year ago because of the weak yen.
Previously, the Korea Tourism Organization set its tourist target for 2013 at 12.5 million people, a year-on-year increase of 13%. However, it is uncertain that the target will be met due to the recent implementation of China’s new Tourism Law.
Meanwhile, Korean tourists heading to foreign countries totaled 12.487 million as of late October 2013, up 9.1% during the same period last year.