Over 2 Million Visitors by July
Annual Total Expected to Easily Surpass 3 Million
Busan has surpassed 2 million foreign tourists this year, marking the shortest period to reach this milestone since statistics began in 2014. It is now expected that the number will exceed 3 million by the end of the year.
The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) announced on the 27th that the number of foreign tourists visiting Busan had reached 2,003,466 as of July this year, surpassing the 2 million mark.
After reaching 1 million in record time in April, the number exceeded 2 million in just three months, making it likely that the city will achieve 3 million within the year.
By July this year, the number of foreign tourists had increased by about 23% compared to the same period last year, when there were 1,624,779 visitors. By country and region, Taiwan led with 377,912 visitors, followed by China (315,318), Japan (266,707), the United States (145,535), and the Philippines (99,536). The city analyzed that the increase in most major inbound markets is expanding Busan's foreign tourism market.
The city cited several factors behind the surge in tourists: enhancing Busan's global city brand value during the bid for the 2030 Expo; offering customized tourism products and developing integrated content; strengthening marine tourism competitiveness; and the stable operation of the foreigner-exclusive 'Visit Busan Pass.'
To attract tourists from Taiwan, the city introduced an in-flight meal themed around pork rice soup. Localized content such as 'Temple Trekking,' which combines hiking and temple visits, and 'Star Sea Busan Night Festa,' which merges Busan's night scenery with cultural experiences, received positive responses. In addition to Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches, Dadaepo Beach, which opened for the first time this year, saw its visitors more than double. International events such as the International Boat Show, the International Marine Film Festival, and marine wellness programs also boosted tourism demand.
The 'Visit Busan Pass,' a tourism pass exclusively for foreigners, sold 480,000 units in the first half of the year alone, doubling from the previous year. By integrating discounts for transportation and tourist attractions, it has established itself as an "essential item for traveling in Busan," enhancing both convenience and satisfaction.
The city plans to maintain this upward trend in the second half by turning global mega-events and festivals into tourism products. Examples include 'Festival October,' the 'Busan Fireworks Festival,' and Cirque du Soleil performances in Busan. In addition, the city will strengthen marketing efforts around China's National Day holiday (October 1-8) in anticipation of visa-free group tours from China, and accelerate the development of differentiated products utilizing the city’s seaside urban environment.
Mayor Park Hyungjoon stated, "Surpassing 2 million foreign tourists in the shortest period since statistics began in 2014 is proof that our initiatives to make Busan an international tourism city are bearing fruit. We expect to easily exceed the 3 million target and will devote all our efforts to becoming a global tourism hub city."
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