Japanese tourists flock to Korea on strong yen

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The number of Japanese tourists to South Korea is expected to jump nearly 30 percent on-year in the fourth quarter on a stronger yen, a state tourism agency said Friday.

"It's predicted that the local tourism industry will enjoy a boom thanks to the
stronger yen," the Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) said. "A large number of
reservations have already been made."
The yen surged nearly 28 percent against the won in the first nine months of this
year, making travel to South Korea more affordable for Japanese travelers.
According to KTO, about 2.3 million Japanese travelers visited South Korea last
year, while the number is expected to reach about 3 million this year. The agency
did not provide specific details on how many tourists they expected from Japan in
the fourth quarter.
In September, the number of Japanese tourists to South Korea rose 4.75 percent
on-year to 202,000, the agency said.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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