Tourism in South Korea down 99% since April 2020

Fewer than 10,000 tourists per month have visited South Korea since last April due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

South Korea.- An average of just 9,722 tourists per month have visited South Korea since last April, a 99 per cent decline compared to the 1.33m visitors in January 2020.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said is saw no sign of an immediate tourism recovery and was unable to make clear future projections.

Only 340 Chinese residents per month arrived to South Korea, while only 42 arrived from Japan, typically Korea’s second-largest market. The country saw an average 3,470 arrivals from the US but probably due to military bases.

South Korea’s foreigner-only casino operators have been deeply affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of tourists.

Paradise Co recently reported a loss of KRW109.85bn (US$98.4m) for 2020 and a loss of KRW59.21bn (US$53m) for the fourth quarter.

Grand Korea Leisure reported a loss of KRW64.3bn (US$57.9m) and has extended the closure of its Seoul casinos until March 15.

South Korea hopes to establish travel bubbles with neighbours and implement Covid-19 vaccine passports like those proposed by China.