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By APD writer Alice
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) estimated that the number of international tourists to South Korea is expected to reach 17.5 million this year, the highest level so far, exceeding the figure of 17.24 million recorded in 2016.
The agencies held a ceremony to welcome the 17.25 millionth foreign visitor to South Korea at the Incheon International Airport on December 26.
The country’s revenue from foreign visitors is estimated at 25.1 trillion won (21.56 billion USD), the agencies said. The tourism sector created about 460,000 jobs.
In order to attract more independent tourists from China, the nation's No. 1 tourism market, the South Korean government has simplified visa issuance regulations for Chinese college students and middle-income earners. As a result, the number of individual Chinese tourists to South Korea advanced by 26.1 percent year-on-year in the first 11 months to reach 5.51 million.
In addition, tourists from Southeast Asia and the Middle East surged 10 percent from a year ago to 2.94 million between January and November.
Those from the United States are expected to top 1 million by the year's end, making it the fourth country from which over 1 million travel to South Korea annually, following behind China, Japan and Taiwan.
South Korea moved up three places from 19th in 2017 to 16th this year on the world travel and tourism competitiveness index by the World Economic Forum./.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
