Foreign tourist spending in Korea hits record $911 million

Monthly spending by foreign tourists in the Republic of Korea reached a record high of 1.41 trillion won (about US$911 million) in May, marking the third consecutive month such spending exceeded 1 trillion won, according to data released today.

Credit card spending by inbound travellers totalled 1.41 trillion won last month, up 73.7 per cent from a year earlier, according to data from the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO).

According to Yonhap News Agency, shopping accounted for the largest share of foreign spending at 39.1 per cent, followed by beauty wellness at 21.1 per cent, fashion at 14.3 per cent, and lifestyle food at 11.9 per cent, among other categories.

WAM