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[Yanolja Research Insights] Vol.11 Inbound Tourism Activation Strategy Issue1

Can Tourism Save Korea’s Regions?

South Korea is facing more than just a declining birthrate. With shrinking communities and an aging population, some regions are at risk of disappearing altogether. One powerful solution is gaining attention: revitalizing inbound tourism to boost regional economies and counter demographic decline.

Here are the key highlights:

🚨 Population Decline: A National Emergency

  • Fertility rate at a record low: Korea's birthrate has fallen to 0.7, with projections pointing even lower.

  • Vanishing workforce: University admissions could drop by half within 15 years, significantly shrinking the labor pool.

  • Stagnant growth ahead: Economic growth could fall to 0% or lower by the 2050s, with the population expected to drop below 40 million by 2070.


🧭 A New Approach: Growing the "Economic Population"

Instead of only focusing on increasing the birthrate, there's growing emphasis on expanding the consumption base—and tourism offers a fast-track solution.

  • Spending power of tourists: A typical international visitor spends about ₩1.7M in one week, equivalent to 9% of per capita consumption.

  • Scalable impact: Attracting 30–50 million tourists per year could simulate an increase of 2.7–4.5 million people in economic activity.


🌍 Learning from Global Leaders

  • Japan has diversified its tourism offerings across multiple regions with strategic direct flights and localized attractions.

  • Spain, pre-pandemic, welcomed over 80 million tourists annually, adding a "consumption population" equivalent to 20% of its own citizens.

  • In contrast, over 80% of tourists in Korea stay only in Seoul, limiting the benefits to other regions.



Thanks to the Korean Wave, global interest in Korea is booming. With strategic investment and nationwide coordination, tourism could be Korea’s next semiconductor industry—a driving force for both economic resilience and regional revitalization.

Then What strategic shifts does Korea need to fully harness tourism as a national growth engine?  Dive deeper on the official Yanolja Research website.
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Location: Seoul, Korea

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