International Tourist Arrivals Exceed 10.71 Million in First Half of 2026 as K-Tourism Sustains Quantitative and Qualitative Growth
Date Jul 29, 2026
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- International arrivals reach 1.99 million in June 2026, up 23.1% year-over-year
- Foreign tourist credit card spending exceeds KRW 10 trillion in the first half, three months earlier than last year
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) announced that 1.99 million international tourists visited Korea in June 2026, up 23.1% from June 2025. This brought cumulative international tourist arrivals for the first half of the year to 10.71 million.
By major market, China accounted for the largest share and posted the highest growth rate, with 650,000 visitors, followed by Japan (350,000) and Taiwan (220,000). Arrivals also increased from the Americas (220,000), Europe (120,000), and six major Southeast Asian markets—Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore—with a combined 230,000 visitors, demonstrating the continued diversification of K-Tourism’s source markets.
[Inbound Visitor Arrivals by Major Market]
|
Category |
June 2025 |
June 2026 |
YoY Growth |
|
China |
477,052 |
649,582 |
36.2% |
|
Taiwan |
164,885 |
223,127 |
35.3% |
|
Hong Kong |
56,109 |
65,690 |
17.1% |
|
Japan |
287,140 |
348,216 |
21.3% |
|
Americas |
204,079 |
219,948 |
7.8% |
|
Europe |
100,512 |
119,445 |
18.8% |
|
Other (Southeast Asia, Oceania, Africa, etc.) |
329,443 |
367,120 |
11.4% |
|
Total |
1,619,220 |
1,993,128 |
23.1% |
* Source: Korea Tourism Statistics (Korea Tourism Organization)
Of all arrivals, 1.74 million entered Korea by air, accounting for the majority. Particularly notable was the increase in international arrivals through regional airports. In June, 390,000 international visitors entered Korea through regional airports, including Gimhae, Daegu, Jeju, and Cheongju, up 42.5% year-over-year.
[Inbound Visitor Arrivals by Port of Entry]
|
Category |
June 2025 |
June 2026 |
YoY Growth |
|
Capital-Area Airports |
1,138,977 |
1,346,463 |
18.2% |
|
Capital-Area Seaports |
29,498 |
55,243 |
87.3% |
|
Regional Airports |
277,454 |
395,246 |
42.5% |
|
Regional Seaports |
173,291 |
196,176 |
13.2% |
* Source: Korea Tourism Statistics (Korea Tourism Organization)
Foreign Tourist Credit Card Spending Exceeds KRW 10 Trillion in the First Half; Rising Travel Satisfaction Signals Balanced Quantitative and Qualitative Growth
Tourism spending also remained strong alongside the rise in visitor numbers. Foreign tourists’ credit card spending reached KRW 2.0544 trillion in June, exceeding KRW 2 trillion for the second consecutive month following May. Cumulative spending for the first half surpassed KRW 10 trillion—about three months earlier than last year, when the threshold was reached in September—indicating a substantial contribution to the domestic economy.
[Foreign Tourist Credit Card Spending]
|
Category |
June 2025 |
June 2026 |
YoY Growth |
|
Credit Card Tourism Spending |
KRW 1.2348 trillion |
KRW 2.0544 trillion |
66.4% |
* Source: Korea Tourism Data Lab (Korea Tourism Organization)
According to the results of the “Q2 2026 International Visitor Survey,” both overall travel satisfaction among international visitors and the regional visitation rate increased from Q2 2025, confirming that K-Tourism is also achieving qualitative growth.
[Overall Travel Satisfaction and Regional Visitation Rate]
|
Category |
Q2 2025 |
Q2 2026 |
Change |
|
Overall Travel Satisfaction |
89.8 points |
90.5 points |
+0.7 points |
|
Regional Visitation Rate |
31.4% |
34.2% |
+2.8%p |
* Source: International Visitor Survey (Korea Culture & Tourism Institute); Q2 2026 figures are provisional.