Why Busan’s Tourist Numbers Are Soaring: Medical Tourism and Regional Visitor Trends

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Busan’s growth rate has outpaced the 21.3 % rise seen nationwide, putting the city on track to exceed four million foreign visitors this year after it welcomed 3.6 million in 2025.

Last year marked the first time the city’s annual foreign tourist arrivals topped three million, a milestone for Busan.

Taiwan was the largest source market, contributing 605,000 visitors, followed by mainland China with 594,000 and Japan with 340,000, as reported by the city.

Visitors from the United States jumped 78.4 % to 259,675, even though there are no direct flights to Busan.

The Korea Herald reported that Busan’s many dermatology and plastic‑surgery clinics have created a concentration of medical‑tourism spending, which the city said helped drive the increase in foreign visitors.

These figures show how regional visitor trends and a strong medical‑tourism sector can quickly boost a city’s appeal to international travelers.

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