No. of Foreign Tourists in S. Korea Tops 10Mln

Published on 2012/11/24 | Source

The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea in a single year has surpassed the ten-million mark for the first time ever.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday celebrated the milestone event in Incheon International Airport, holding a welcoming ceremony for the ten millionth person to visit the country this year.

The visitor arrived on a flight from Shanghai at 11:20 a.m.

The number of foreign tourists hit the one-million mark in 1978 and has since sharply increased by an annual average of 15 percent. The number topped the five million mark in 2000.

The ministry said that the landmark event means South Korea has emerged as a major tourist destination and that it has to seek qualitative growth to attract foreign tourists. Reported by KBS WORLD Radio Contact the KBS News: englishweb@kbs.co.kr