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'Fun City Busan' targets 5M foreign tourists

New nighttime events have attracted foreign tourists.

　Busan is emerging as a premier destination for fun and engaging travel experiences, attracting travelers from around the globe with its diverse and vibrant charms. From January to October 2025, the city welcomed 3,019,164 international visitors, marking the first time Busan has surpassed the 3-million threshold in a single year. 

　This growth represents a remarkable 20% year-on-year increase in tourists from several key markets, including Chinese-speaking regions, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, Russia and the United Kingdom. Alongside the rise in arrivals, international tourist spending reached 859.2 billion won as of October 2024, a 31.5% increase compared to the previous year and the fastest growth rate in the country.

　City officials attribute the surge to inbound tourism strategies, including developing experience-based travel content, hosting major cultural events and strengthening offerings in gastronomy and cruise tourism. Looking ahead, Busan aims to attract 5 million international visitors and generate 1.5 trillion won in annual tourism spending by 2028. 

　To achieve these goals, the city will focus on elevating its global branding and competitiveness as a premier tourism hub. Plans include expanding the city's tourism footprint and enhancing cultural content, as well as developing high-value, purpose-based travel programs. Furthermore, Busan plans to implement a range of measures, from infrastructure innovation to developing integrated tourism routes linking Busan to other major cities in the southern region.