South Korea tourism to pass the 20-million tourists mark in 2025
South Korea is on track to welcome more than 20 million foreign tourists this year for the first time. This milestone should give a much-needed boost to the nation’s sluggish domestic consumption, according to a report released by the Hyundai Research Institute.
The report reveals that 5.58 million foreign tourists visited South Korea in the first four months of 2025 — a 14.6% increase from the same period last year. Chinese tourists made up the largest share at 28.1%, followed by Japanese travelers at 18.7%.
If current trends continue, total inbound tourism to Korea is forecast to reach a record 20.09 million visitors by the end of the year.
The institute estimates that this influx will generate approximately USD 20.25 billion in tourism revenue, equivalent to 2.5% of the nation’s domestic spending in 2024. The projection is based on analyses of GDP figures, exchange rates, and average spending by international visitors from key markets.
Spending by foreign tourists is also rising in tandem with visitor numbers. Tourism revenue surged 18.6% year-on-year during the January-to-April period, reaching USD 5.62 billion. For all of last year, foreign tourism generated USD 16.45 billion — a 9.2% increase compared to 2023.
The report highlights the positive economic ripple effects of this growth. It estimates that the uptick in foreign visitor spending could boost domestic consumption by 2.5 percentage points, partially offsetting weak spending by South Korean consumers.
To maximize the economic benefits of this tourism boom, Hyundai recommends leveraging Korean pop culture and media for brand marketing. It also suggests to streamline payment systems for tourists as well as enhancing transport access to regional destinations. By supporting tourism startups, it would also generate new job opportunities in the sector – particularly for underprivileged groups.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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