May Cruise Tourists Top 200,000 for First Time... All-Time High

The number of foreign nationals arriving in South Korea via large cruise ships surpassed 200,000 for the first time in May, setting a new all-time high for a single month. Tourist numbers, which were at the 50,000 level late last year, have steadily increased, with cumulative arrivals for January to May reaching approximately 710,000, a 5.9% increase from the same period last year.

A total of 65 cruise ships docked at domestic ports in May, with an average of 3,177 passengers per ship. By port, Jeju Seoguipo Port recorded the highest number of arrivals with 83,659, followed by Busan Port with 77,555. Other ports included Incheon (24,841), Jeju (17,012), and Sokcho (2,000). By age group, those in their 30s were the largest demographic at 50,000, followed by those in their 20s at 47,000.

The Tourism Organization is promoting the '2026 Cruise Tourism Activation Project,' which includes strengthening cooperation with global shipping lines and joint marketing initiatives.