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Investments in tourism lead to record-breaking numbers

source: Busanilbo

Tourism in Busan is thriving this year. By July, the city had already welcomed over 2 million international visitors. At this pace, Busan is on track to welcome over 3 million foreign tourists by year's end, solidifying its position as a global travel hub.

 

The city welcomed over one million foreign visitors between January and April, the earliest Busan has reached the one-million mark since official tracking began in 2014. Then, the figure doubled, and by July, 2,003,466 international tourists had visited the city. This surge represents a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The top visitor groups by country are Taiwan (377,912 visitors), China (315,318), Japan (266,707), the United States (145,535) and the Philippines (99,536). Compared to last year, the figures from nearly all major countries increased, signaling the steady expansion of Busan's inbound tourism market. This trend is viewed as a positive sign for sustaining the momentum of Busan's tourism industry.

Domestic tourism also showed robust growth. According to mobile phone data compiled by the Korea Tourism Data Lab, Busan attracted 92.13 million Korean visitors from January to July, representing a 6.8% year-over-year increase in visitors. Of these, 40.3% came from neighboring Gyeongsangnam Province, followed by 11.3% from Gyeonggi Province and 10.7% from Seoul. 

Officials cite several key factors driving Busan's tourism boom.

The international exposure of Busan's brand value as a global hub city during the bid process to host the 2030 World Expo played a significant role in attracting foreign visitors. The process enabled Busan to showcase its cultural, leisure, gourmet and business offerings to global audiences.

Furthermore, Busan developed tourism content to capitalize on the global popularity of K-culture and showcase the city's unique attractions; strengthened marine tourism through the revitalization of beaches and the promotion of ocean-centric events; and enhanced tourist convenience with products like the Visit Busan Pass and Busan Pay. With major events still on the calendar, such as the Busan Fireworks Festival, officials expect the flow of tourism to continue throughout the year.