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Foreign Visitors to Busan Surpass 2.42 Million in the First Half of 2026, with Tourism Spending Rising Sharply

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that a total of 2,420,629 foreign tourists visited Busan during the first half of 2026, from January through June, achieving 60.5% of the city’s annual target of 4 million visitors.

This represents a 43.9% increase from 1,682,415 visitors during the same period last year. In June alone, Busan welcomed 484,057 foreign visitors, the highest monthly figure recorded this year.

By country and region, Taiwan ranked first with 477,606 visitors, followed by China with 468,876, Japan with 291,141, the United States with 219,147, and the Philippines with 93,061.

Visitors from Taiwan increased by 54.0% year on year, accounting for the largest share of cumulative arrivals in the first half of the year at 19.7%. Visitors from China rose sharply by 90.7% from the same period last year. In June in particular, China accounted for the largest share, with 108,000 visitors, or 22.5% of the monthly total.

The United States ranked fourth with 219,147 visitors, up 76.4% year on year. Major increases were also recorded in Western markets, including France with 26,889 visitors, up 112.9%; Australia with 38,369, up 41.8%; and the United Kingdom with 38,501, up 24.7%, demonstrating greater market diversification.

According to a credit card big-data analysis by the Korea Tourism Organization, foreign tourism spending in Busan reached KRW 591.4 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 63.0% from KRW 362.1 billion during the same period last year. The increase is also believed to have contributed to revitalizing local commercial districts.

Busan’s tourism spending growth rate of 63.0% exceeded the national average of 55.0%.

An analysis of tourism spending by district and county also showed a trend toward greater geographical balance and diversification. While Haeundae-gu accounted for 32.7% of spending last year, this year the shares were more evenly distributed among Busanjin-gu at 26.7%, Haeundae-gu at 25.9%, and Gijang-gun at 13.6%.

The BTS World Tour ARIRANG IN BUSAN concert was found to have had a significant impact on both foreign visitor numbers and spending in June, which reached new monthly highs.

According to Busan Metropolitan City’s analysis of telecommunications data from KT and credit card data from BC Card, foreign foot traffic within a three-kilometer radius of Busan Asiad Main Stadium totaled 730,000 during the week of the BTS concert, from June 8 to 14. This represented an increase of 341.9% from the week before the concert.

Spending in nearby commercial districts also increased substantially during the same period. Foreign credit card sales around the concert venue reached KRW 548 million, surging by 114.8% from KRW 255 million in the preceding week. High credit card sales were also recorded at related event venues, including the Love Song Lounge in Haeundae at KRW 980 million and the Drone Show in Gwangalli at KRW 132 million.

By country and region, visitors from Taiwan recorded the highest credit card spending at KRW 10.46 billion, followed by Japan at KRW 6.73 billion, the United States at KRW 4.94 billion, and China at KRW 2.31 billion. Spending by visitors from the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China rose particularly sharply compared with the week before the concert, demonstrating the concert’s substantial economic ripple effects.

Based on the results of this big-data analysis, the Busan Institute is conducting a policy research project titled “Analysis of the Tourism Effects of Hosting Mega Events.” The final results are scheduled to be announced at the end of August.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “Surpassing 2.42 million foreign tourists in the first half of 2026, together with the sharp increase in tourism spending, is a significant achievement demonstrating that Busan is firmly establishing itself as a world-class tourism city.”

He added, “Going forward, we will move beyond quantitative growth focused solely on increasing visitor numbers. We will devote every effort to expanding tourism content and improving the city’s readiness to accommodate tourists in pursuit of qualitative growth, including longer stays and a more balanced regional distribution of tourism spending.”