Tourists stand next to street vendors at Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 9, 2023. Photo by Reuters
Vietnam is the 5th largest global source of tourists for Korea, leading in Southeast Asia, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.
Data from the organization reveals that the number of Vietnamese tourists to Korea surpassed 386,000 by the end of November, marking the highest figure in Southeast Asia and securing the 5th spot worldwide.
Vietnam also leads Southeast Asia in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) group visitors, with almost 40,000, doubling compared to the same period in 2022.
“It’s noteworthy that Vietnam now holds the top position for the first time, becoming the largest market in Southeast Asia,” KTO said.
The number of Vietnamese visitors to Korea has increased by 140% compared to 2022 and 74% compared to 2019. Projections suggest the total will reach 420,000 by December’s end.
In the first 11 months, over 3.2 million Koreans visited Vietnam, making Korea the top contributor, followed by China with 1.5 million visits.
South Korea takes Vietnam as its second-favorite destination after Japan, with around 2.56 million South Korean visitors from January to September, a 389% increase from the previous year.
In 2024, KTO plans to promote the Top 100 Korean tourist destinations and launch the K-Tourism Roadshow events in Vietnam, aiming to attract more visitors from Vietnam to explore these destinations.
