BTS-fueled Surge Turns Busan into a Citywide K-tourism Festival
Creatrip Team
a month ago
BTS’s 'BTS World Tour Arirang in Busan' concerts on June 12–13 transformed Busan into a citywide festival, drawing over 110,000 attendees (more than half international fans). The city and organizers set up welcome centers (웰컴센터), a Love Song Lounge (러브송라운지), and Port Village attractions, while transit services were massively increased and nearly 4,790 staff were deployed to ensure safety. About 31,263 foreign visitors arrived at Gimhae Airport during the period, and Busan Station’s welcome center served 26,245 people (75.8% foreign). Local businesses saw a tourism boost—souvenir shop daily sales rose 136% year-on-year—and themed city tour buses and gourmet guidebooks sold out. The city provided temporary lodging (including temple stays (템플스테이) and homestays) for 1,776 people. Authorities will publish a big-data impact analysis in August to shape future global-event and stay-focused tourism policies.
