Cumulative Inbound Visitors Reach 17.11 Million as of September 2026

On Track to Surpass Last Year’s Total of 18.94 Million

- Inbound visitors in September reached 2.06 million, up 21.1% year over year, with cumulative arrivals through September up 21.5%

- Tourism-related card spending (KRW 15.845 trillion through September) and the share of arrivals via regional airports and seaports (28.2% through September) both increased

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) released its inbound tourism trends for September 2026 on October 22 (Thursday).

In September alone, 2.06 million international tourists visited Korea, up 21.1% from the same period last year, surpassing 2 million in a single month. Cumulative inbound arrivals through September reached 17.11 million, up 21.5% from the same period last year (14.08 million). The total is expected to exceed last year’s figure of 18.94 million in October.

The growth in inbound tourism has translated into higher tourism spending and more arrivals through regional gateways. Through September this year, international visitors’ card spending in the tourism sector reached KRW 15.845 trillion, a 46.8% surge from the same period last year (KRW 10.794 trillion). The number of inbound visitors arriving through airports^* and seaports^** outside the Seoul Capital Area also reached 3.24 million (19.0% of the total) and 1.58 million (9.2% of the total), respectively, through September, up 37.4% and 14.5% from the same period last year.

* Including Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju, and Daegu airports, ** Including Busan, Jeju, Seogwipo, Yeosu, and Gunsan ports

KANG Jeong-won, Deputy Minister for Tourism Policy at the MCST, stated, “Our multifaceted efforts to raise awareness of Korea as a travel destination, improve the travel environment, and expand tourism offerings are bearing fruit. We will soon hold a press conference to share this year’s achievements in detail and outline next year’s policy direction.”

Attachment: Inbound Tourism Trends, January–September 2026