Korea bets on regional airports to spread tourism beyond capital area

The government plans to invest 410 billion won next year to develop five tourism regions centered on airports in Busan, Daegu, Cheongju, Yangyang and Muan. It aims to attract a combined 5 million international visitors to the regions by 2029 and strengthen regional economies. The plan includes 27 projects covering transport, accommodation, payments, tourism experiences, AI services and visa screening.

International tourist arrivals reached 15.05 million as of Aug. 31, while regional airports and seaports accounted for 27.8 percent of arrivals, the highest share recorded.

The investment will support 27 projects across eight ministries, including connections to airports, seaports and cruise terminals, improved transportation and accommodation, and easier payment options.

The government plans to double stores accepting QR code payments from foreign visitors from 40,000 this year to 80,000 next year.

A separate program planned for the first half of next year will seek to simplify visa screenings for medical and wellness tourists.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for Korea’s economic growth this year to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent.

Published Oct 14, 2026 3:40 pm KST

Gov't to invest $306.4 mil. in regional tourism, target 5 mil. visitors by 2029

Foreign tourists walk around a cardboard replica of Hwahongmun Gate at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Yonhap

Korea plans to invest 410 billion won ($306.4 million) next year to develop five major tourism regions centered on regional airports, seeking to draw more international tourists to venture beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Wednesday that the government aims to attract a combined 5 million international arrivals by 2029 to the five regions, selected last month around airports in Busan, Daegu, Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Yangyang in Gangwon Province and Muan in South Jeolla Province. The government hopes to turn these airports into gateways for travel beyond the capital and boost regional economies.

Lee outlined the plan at a task force meeting on developing the service sector.

Korea has welcomed a record 15.05 million international tourists as of Aug. 31 this year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. More are beginning to enter through regional gateways; arrivals via regional airports and seaports accounted for 27.8 percent of the total, marking the highest share.

To build on that trend, the government will use 410 billion won to support 27 projects across eight ministries, including better connections to regional airports, seaports and cruise terminals, improved transportation and accommodation, as well as easier payment options. It is also set to develop tourism experiences that showcase what each destination has to offer.

Pilot projects will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help address common problems visitors face with transportation and language. A separate program planned for the first half of next year will seek to simplify visa screenings for medical and wellness tourists.

The government also aims to double the number of stores accepting QR code payments from foreign visitors from 40,000 this year to 80,000 next year.

Tourism is one of several service industries the country is looking to develop as a source of growth alongside semiconductors.

Lee cited the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) decision to raise its forecast for Korea’s economic growth this year to 3.3 percent from 2.6 percent. The revision, he said, “reflects an economy in which strong semiconductor exports have more than offset the drag from the war in the Middle East.”

The minister said the government wants the service sector to contribute to the growth.

“The sector has significant potential to create jobs,” he added. “It also employs a large number of young people and helps revitalize regional economies. Through the development of the services industry, the government aims to deliver both economic growth and tangible benefits to people’s lives.”

Foreign visitors flock to Seoul’s royal palaces as tourism rebounds

韩国政府计划明年投资4100亿韩元，以釜山、大邱、清州、襄阳和务安五个机场为中心，开发五个旅游区域。目标是到2029年吸引500万国际游客到访这些区域，并促进区域经济发展。该计划包含27个项目，涵盖交通、住宿、支付、旅游体验、人工智能服务和签证审批等领域。

截至 8 月 31 日，国际游客入境人数达到 1505 万人次，其中区域机场和海港的入境人数占 27.8%，是记录到的最高比例。

这项投资将支持八个部委的 27 个项目，包括连接机场、海港和邮轮码头，改善交通和住宿条件，以及提供更便捷的支付方式。

政府计划将接受外国游客二维码支付的商店数量从今年的 4 万家增加到明年的 8 万家。

另一项计划于明年上半年实施的项目将致力于简化医疗和健康旅游者的签证审查。

韩国财政部长李亨日表示，国际货币基金组织将韩国今年的经济增长预期从2.6%上调至3.3%。

发布于2026年10月14日下午3:40（韩国标准时间）

政府将投资3.064亿美元用于区域旅游业，目标是到2029年吸引500万游客。

周日，外国游客在京畿道水原市华原城华红门纸板模型前参观。（韩联社）

韩国计划明年投资 4100 亿韩元（3.064 亿美元）开发以地区机场为中心的五个主要旅游区，以吸引更多国际游客前往首尔都市区以外的地方旅游。

韩国财政部长李亨日周三表示，政府计划到2029年吸引500万国际游客到访上月选定的五个地区，这些地区分别位于釜山、大邱、忠清北道清州市、江原道襄阳市和全罗南道务安市的机场附近。政府希望将这些机场打造成为首都以外地区的门户，并促进区域经济发展。

李在服务业发展工作组会议上概述了该计划。

据韩国文化体育观光部统计，截至今年8月31日，韩国已接待国际游客1505万人次，创历史新高。越来越多的游客开始通过区域门户入境；经由区域机场和海港入境的游客占总数的27.8%，占比最高。

为了延续这一趋势，政府将投入4100亿韩元，支持八个部委的27个项目，包括改善与地区机场、海港和邮轮码头的连接，提升交通和住宿条件，以及提供更便捷的支付方式。政府还将开发能够充分展现各个目的地特色的旅游体验项目。

试点项目将利用人工智能（AI）帮助解决游客在交通和语言方面遇到的常见问题。另一项计划于明年上半年启动的项目旨在简化医疗和养生游客的签证审核流程。

政府还计划将接受外国游客二维码支付的商店数量从今年的 4 万家增加到明年的 8 万家。

旅游业是该国希望发展以促进经济增长的几个服务行业之一，半导体行业也在其中。

李先生援引国际货币基金组织（IMF）将韩国今年经济增长预期从2.6%上调至3.3%的决定。他表示，这一调整“反映出强劲的半导体出口已经完全抵消了中东战争带来的拖累”。

部长表示，政府希望服务业为经济增长做出贡献。

他补充说：“该行业具有巨大的就业创造潜力，也为大量年轻人提供了就业机会，并有助于振兴区域经济。政府希望通过发展服务业，既促进经济增长，又切实改善人民生活。”

随着旅游业复苏，外国游客蜂拥而至首尔的皇家宫殿。