Yanolja Research

Rebalancing Korea’s Tourism Flows: Why the Structure Matters Korea’s tourism market is entering an era of mass mobility. Inbound travel is growing. Outbound travel is growing even faster. The result is not just more movement—but a persistent imbalance that continues to drain value from the domestic economy. This challenge is structural, not temporary. Record Mobility, Persistent Imbalance Cross-border travel is reaching historic highs. Yet the gap between inbound and outbound travel remains firmly in place. Key signals to note: Outbound travel consistently exceeds inbound arrivals The gap remains close to 10 million travelers Tourism spending abroad significantly outweighs spending by foreign visitors in Korea The tourism balance has reached a record-level deficit This indicates that growth in visitor numbers alone does not correct the problem. Why Travelers Keep Choosing Overseas Destinations The imbalance is driven by rational consumer behavior. What shapes tr...

South Korea’s Tourism Outlook for 2026: What Lies Ahead? The global tourism market is entering a new phase. Not just recovery—but structural change. In 2026, Korea’s tourism landscape is expected to be shaped by uncertainty, shifting geopolitics, and changing travel behavior. Data-driven forecasting points to both new opportunities and emerging risks for inbound and outbound travel. Here are the key takeaways you need to know . How the Outlook Was Built: Forecasting Methodology Tourism demand in 2026 is influenced by overlapping shocks rather than stable cycles. To reflect this reality, the outlook is built on a forecasting framework designed to capture complexity and structural change. Core approach A deep-learning time-series model capable of learning long-term trends and short-term disruptions simultaneously Integration of multidimensional variables , including: Macroeconomic indicators such as income levels and inflation Exchange rates and travel price competitiven...