China Mainland Tourists Top Busan’s August Visitor List
Busan, SouthKorea – Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, saw a significantsurge in foreign tourists in August, with Chinese mainland visitors taking the lead, according to data released by the Busan Tourism Organization on October 23rd.
The city welcomed over 275,000 international visitors in August, a notable increase of over 100,000 compared to thesame period last year. This figure also surpasses the visitor count from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, by approximately 30,000.
Among the diverse nationalities, Chinese mainland tourists dominated thevisitor count, accounting for 18.8% of the total with 51,893 visitors. This is followed by Taiwan (18.1%, 50,026 visitors), Japan (16.4%, 45,152 visitors), the United States (6%, 16,680 visitors), and Hong Kong (4.9%, 13,591 visitors).
The resurgence of Chinese mainland tourists to Busan is particularly noteworthy, considering the strained relations between South Korea and Chinafollowing the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea in 2017. The deployment sparked diplomatic tensions and led to a significant decline in Chinese tourists visiting South Korea.
This recent increase in Chinese visitors suggests a potential thawing of relations between the twocountries and a renewed interest in South Korea as a travel destination. The Busan Tourism Organization is likely to capitalize on this trend, promoting Busan’s diverse attractions and cultural experiences to further attract Chinese tourists.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, October 23). 釜山8月接待外国游客中中国大陆游客占比最高. Retrieved from https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20241023000000004?input=1195m
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