Travel
Busan nears 2 million foreign visitors as tourism spending ranks second nationwide
Haps Magazine Korea
July 6, 2026
(Photo by Busan Tourist Organization/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)
Busan is on pace to welcome a record number of international visitors this year, with nearly 2 million foreign tourists arriving during the first five months of 2026.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government, the city recorded 1,936,572 international visitors between January and May, a 40% increase from the same period last year.
The figure represents nearly half of the city’s annual goal of attracting 4 million foreign tourists.
In May alone, Busan welcomed approximately 460,000 foreign visitors, up 42.9% compared to the same month in 2025. The city’s growth significantly outpaced the national average increase of 21% over the same period.
Taiwan accounted for the largest number of visitors with more than 375,000 arrivals, followed by China (359,981), Japan (233,685), and the United States (170,587).
China recorded one of the strongest growth rates. While Chinese arrivals nationwide declined slightly from April to May, Busan welcomed 89,275 Chinese visitors in May, a 22.7% increase over the previous month and a 94% increase year-over-year.
The city attributes part of that growth to expanded cruise tourism initiatives, including Korea’s first 24-hour cruise terminal operation for overnight cruise ships, along with cruise packages linked to rail, air travel, and local festivals. As a result, the number of Chinese visitors arriving through Busan Port increased more than ninefold compared to May last year.
Busan also saw continued growth from long-haul markets. Visitors from the United States increased 80.1% year-over-year in May, while arrivals from France rose 89.2% and visitors from the United Kingdom increased 44.7%. City officials said international marketing campaigns with global travel platforms and overseas media have helped diversify the city’s visitor base beyond its traditional Northeast Asian markets.
Tourism spending has also continued to climb.
According to data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab, Busan ranked second in the nation for foreign visitor spending, behind only Seoul, for the third consecutive month. International visitors spent 132.2 billion won in May, more than double the 51.2 billion won recorded in January. Total foreign visitor spending from January through May reached 454.4 billion won.
The city also reported that recent K-pop-related events have contributed to longer stays and repeat visits. A survey conducted at the BTS THE CITY Arirang Busan Welcome Center in June found that 46% of international respondents had visited Busan before, while more than 40% stayed for four nights or longer. Nearly 60% said they planned to shop at traditional markets during their visit.
Busan plans to continue expanding partnerships with global online travel platforms, promote the Visit Busan Pass, introduce new marine tourism transportation such as amphibious tour buses and water taxis, and link major events including the Busan Fireworks Festival, the Byulbada Busan Night Festa, and large-scale food festivals, to encourage longer stays and increased visitor spending