SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) -- Foreign tourist arrivals in Seoul topped 12 million in 2024, approaching pre-pandemic levels, city officials said Tuesday.
The South Korean capital welcomed 12.12 million international visitors from January through November, reaching 95 percent of the record 12.74 million visitors in the same period in 2019, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reported.
The rebound follows steady growth from pandemic lows, with annual visitor numbers rising from 2.19 million in 2022 to 8.03 million in 2023.
Seoul was named the best MICE city for the 10th straight year by Global Traveler, a U.S. magazine for business travelers.
The city also topped Tripadvisor's list of best cities for solo travel, earning praise for its historic palaces, modern architecture and round-the-clock public transportation.
Seoul plans a range of events for 2025, including Seoul Festa in spring, a triathlon festival along the Han River in summer and the Seoul Lantern Festival in winter.
"This year is crucial for achieving our '3-3-7-7' tourism goals," said Koo Jong-won, director of Seoul's Tourism and Sports Bureau, referring to targets of 30 million visitors, average spending of 3 million won per visitor, seven-day average stays, and a 70 percent return rate.
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