Last year, the number of cruise tourists visiting South Korea tripled compared to the previous year, and the number of incoming cruise ships also doubled.
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the number of cruise tourists visiting South Korea last year reached 810,000, a threefold increase compared to 273,000 in 2023. This represents a significant rise, compared to a global increase of about 1.13 times during the same period.
Last year, 414 cruise ships entered South Korea, roughly double the 203 ships from the previous year. By region, the Jeju area had the most cruise arrivals. The number of cruise tourists visiting Jeju last year was 640,000, a sixfold increase from 101,000 the year before. The number of cruise ships also surged from 71 to 274, an increase of about four times. The number of vessels arriving in Busan also grew from 105 to 118.
A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official noted, “The number of ships expected to arrive this year is 560, and approximately 1.09 million cruise tourists are projected to visit South Korea.”
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are implementing various policies to revitalize the cruise industry. The two ministries conducted strategic personnel exchanges in April last year and jointly established a 'Cruise Tourism Revitalization Plan' in June. Alongside this, they carried out four strategic tasks: expanding cruise-related infrastructure, enhancing tourism products, strengthening attraction and promotion, and improving regulations. They also continuously promoted joint efforts to attract cruise ships in collaboration with local governments in port areas, port authorities, and tourism organizations.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to collaborate this year to increase the number of cruise tourists visiting South Korea. The two ministries will work together on ▲ a pilot project for coastal cruises to promote national cruise tourism ▲ developing themed tourism products for cruise destinations ▲ joint attraction activities for cruise ports and ships ▲ expanding discounts on port facility usage fees for cruise ships. A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official mentioned, “We plan to promote the growth of the cruise industry and support the convenience of cruise tourists visiting South Korea.”