SEOUL, KOREA - The number of foreign tourists visiting Korea this year has topped 12 million for the first time in history, largely thanks to more than a 50-percent rise in the number of Chinese tourists.

 

 

 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said on December 26 that the inbound tourist numbers surpassed the 12-million level and it is forecast to reach 12.1 million by the year's end. The foreign tourist figure has grown steadily over the past three decades, with over 1 million in 1978 and 5 million in 2000.

 

For the 11 months until November, the number was 11 million, up 9 percent from the same period last year, despite adverse factors such as the weak Japanese yen, the North Korean nuclear threat, and the passage of a Chinese law restricting outbound package tourism.

 

The 9-percent rise in tourist numbers was largely because of the rapid increase in the number of Chinese tourists, reaching 4.05 million until the end of November, up 53 percent from a year ago. Of these, 43 percent, or 1.75 million, visited Jeju Island by taking advantage of no-visa privilege.