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[Yanolja Research Insights Vol.28] How Do Airline Supply Networks Shape the Geographic Concentration of Inbound Tourism?



Curious About How an Unbalanced Air Network 
Creates Tourism Blind Spots?

 Take a look at the summary below ⬇️



Korea’s inbound tourism continues to show 
a chronic concentration in the capital region.

As shown in the graph above, about 73% of all international visitors in 2024 
entered the country through Incheon and Gimpo airports 
— both located in the Seoul metropolitan area.

This capital-centric tourism flow has been identified as one of the key barriers 
to the growth of Korea’s tourism industry.




Understanding the structure of air service supply is crucial, 
and the route patterns of three Northeast Asian countries 
— Japan, China, and Taiwan — are especially noteworthy.

The proportion of domestic vs. foreign airlines 
differs significantly across these countries. 
For example, in Japan routes, Korean carriers dominate, 
which could restrict air access for foreign travelers.🥲




📈Over the past decade, Korean low-cost carriers (LCCs) have grown rapidly, 
especially on Japan and Taiwan routes.
This shift is considered one of the key contributors 
to the increasingly imbalanced air service structure.

The expansion of Korean LCCs has likely narrowed 
the market space for foreign airlines, 
leading to a route network more focused on 
outbound demand from Korean travelers rather than inbound tourism.




In contrast, China shows a relatively higher proportion of foreign airlines, 
particularly on routes to regional airports 
like Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju, Daegu, and Muan.
This structural trait can serve as a strategic foundation 
for expanding Chinese routes through Korea’s regional airports in the future.

In short, attracting foreign airlines is not just about increasing flight frequencies 
— it also holds potential as a strategic tool 
for discovering and generating untapped tourism demand. ✈️




For a deeper dive into strategies for attracting foreign airlines to regional airports,
check out Yanolja Research Insight Vol. 28 😊






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Location: Seoul, South Korea

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