South Korea proposes airport tourism hubs to draw visitors beyond Seoul

South Korea plans to develop tourism routes around five regional airports to draw foreign visitors beyond the Seoul area, Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young said at a Seoul press conference on October 28, according to Yonhap News Agency. The proposed 410 billion won project is part of a push to spread the economic benefits of rising arrivals to other regions.

More than 80% of inbound visitors stay in the greater Seoul area, Chae said. He described that concentration as an obstacle to sustainable growth and said regional tourism was essential to the government's goal of attracting 30 million foreign visitors annually, and eventually 40 million.

Five regional airports anchor the proposed routes

The cross-government project sits within a proposed 2027 tourism budget of 1.76 trillion won, up 19% from 1.48 trillion won in 2026. The Korea Herald reported that the proposal includes 152.3 billion won in loans to support construction of large hotels in regional areas. Yonhap said the government also plans an integrated lodging platform to address accommodation shortages and transport difficulties outside the capital.

Arrivals rise as stays and spending fall

Foreign arrivals in 2026 had surpassed the previous annual record of 18.94 million by October 27, Yonhap reported. The government expects the total to pass 20 million in November and reach 23 million by year-end. Chae cited signs of regional growth: arrivals at Gimhae airport rose nearly 50% from January through September compared with the same period in 2025, while Cheongju's rose nearly 60%, according to The Korea Herald.

Those arrival figures sit alongside shorter trips. The Korea Herald, citing Korea Tourism Organization data submitted for a parliamentary audit, reported that the average foreign visitor stay fell from 7.8 days in 2023 to 6.5 days in 2025. Average spending per visitor on accommodation fell 17.8% over the same period, while restaurant spending fell 16.9%.

Chae attributed the declines to more repeat visitors making shorter trips and more short-haul travelers visiting for weekends, The Korea Herald reported. He argued that more varied destinations outside Seoul could encourage longer stays and greater spending. The airport routes and the 2027 spending remain proposals; the reports do not establish that the funding has been approved or the zones have opened.