The number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul last year hit 12 million, returning roughly to prepandemic levels, government data showed Thursday.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said that between January and November, the city saw 12.12 million foreign visitors, nearing the 12.74 million recorded during the same period in 2019, the highest on record.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in tourism, with visitor numbers plummeting to 1.15 million in 2020 and about 500,000 in 2021. However, the figures have almost as quickly rebounded, reaching 2.19 million in 2022 and 8.02 million in 2023.
To attract more visitors, the city plans to offer a variety of seasonal tourism experiences. In spring, Seoul Festa, a large-scale road show featuring performances and festivals, will take place from April 30 to May 6. For the summer, the Hangang Triathlon Festival, featuring swimming, cycling and running events, will run from May 30 to June 1. In the fall, a barbecue festival is scheduled for Oct. 25-26. Finally, the winter will see the return of the Seoul Lantern Festival in December.
Meanwhile, Seoul was named the No. 1 destination for solo travelers in a ranking released this month by global travel platform Tripadvisor. The city was recognized for its excellent public transportation system, low crime rates, friendly locals and a wide range of activities suitable for solo travelers. Kathmandu in Nepal, Cusco in Peru, Thailand's capital Bangkok and Osaka, Japan, followed on the list.
shinjh@heraldcorp.com
