Inbound Tourism Hits 10 Million Early; Casino and Resort Stocks Poised to Benefit
Creatrip Team
25 days ago
South Korea passed 10 million foreign visitors earlier than last year, signaling a strong inbound tourism recovery. May arrivals reached 1.95 million (up 19.4% year‑on‑year) and January–May spending by foreign card users topped 2 trillion won in a single month for the first time, with cumulative card spending up 47.3% year‑on‑year. Growth is spreading beyond Seoul as regional airport arrivals rose 32%. Brokers expect continued momentum driven by K‑culture, rising national brand value, and expanded air capacity from Incheon Airport’s Phase 4. Analysts say integrated casino‑hotel operators (complex resorts) will be biggest beneficiaries, citing Lotte Tour Development and Paradise as top picks. They also note competitive advantages from Korea’s inbound‑friendly policies compared with higher tourist fees in neighboring countries like Japan and Thailand.
