810,000 Cruise Tourists Visited Korea Last Year... Triple the Previous Year

by Kang Nahum

Published 23 Jan.2025 12:59(KST)

Updated 23 Jan.2025 13:15(KST)

Total Consumer Expenditure Reaches 223 Billion KRW

Yonhap News

Last year, the number of cruise tourists visiting South Korea was recorded at 810,000, which is three times higher than the previous year.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 23rd, 414 cruise ships docked in South Korea last year. The number of cruise tourists reached 810,000, tripling compared to the previous year. This represents significant growth compared to the global increase of approximately 1.13 times in cruise tourists during the same period.

By port of call, Jeju had 640,000 tourists with 274 ships, and Busan had 152,000 tourists with 118 ships. The total estimated consumer expenditure was 223 billion KRW. By nationality, the numbers were 510,000 from China, 83,000 from Japan, 60,000 from the United States, and 28,000 from Taiwan.

In April last year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted strategic personnel exchanges to foster the marine tourism and cruise industry. In June of the same year, they jointly established the "Cruise Tourism Revitalization Plan" and collaboratively implemented four strategic tasks: expanding cruise-related infrastructure, enhancing tourism products, strengthening attraction and promotion efforts, and improving systems.

The number of cruise ships scheduled to dock this year is 560 based on berth usage applications, and it is estimated that about 1.09 million cruise tourists will visit South Korea.

Both ministries will continue their collaboration this year to increase the number of cruise tourists visiting Korea. Specifically, they plan to promote the following: ▲ activation of domestic cruise tourism through a coastal cruise pilot project ▲ development of themed tourism products by port of call ▲ joint attraction activities between ports of call and cruise ships ▲ expansion of port facility usage fee reductions for cruise ships.