Seoul: In the first five months of this year, the number of Thai tourists visiting South Korea increased by 20 percent.
According to Thai News Agency, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) revealed that the number of Thai tourists visiting South Korea surged by 20 percent in the initial five months of this year. Concurrently, KTC (Krung Thai Bank) reported a 45 percent rise in credit card spending in the first six months, with sustained growth in overseas credit card expenditure.
Data from KTO highlights that in 2025, a total of 333,930 Thai tourists visited South Korea. For the first five months of 2026, the projection indicates a 20 percent increase in Thai tourists compared to the previous year, demonstrating a continued rise in travel demand to Korea. KTO's target for 2026 is to attract 410,000 Thai tourists. In parallel, KTC's data reveals that overseas credit card spending grew by 40 percent in the first half of this year, with a significant 45 percent increase in spending in South Korea. This trend showcases the growing interest in South Korea's lifestyle, beauty, food, and unique travel experiences.
Mr. Park Seung-hyuk, President of the Korea Tourism Organization, emphasized Thailand as a crucial market in the ASEAN region. He noted that Thai tourists are showing increased interest in Korea across various dimensions, including K-Culture, K-Beauty, food, lifestyle, and novel travel experiences. To facilitate this growing interest, the organization is collaborating with partners such as KTC and Thai Airways to enhance travel accessibility and promote diverse experiences for Thai tourists.
Ms. Pittaya Vorapanyasakul, CEO of KTC, mentioned that Korea holds a significant connection with Thai consumers beyond tourism, extending into culture, beauty, food, lifestyle, and inspiration from K-Culture. The KTC credit card spending data indicates that Thai travelers are not only visiting Korea for tourism but are also engaging in various experiences throughout their trips, including transportation, beauty, health, shopping, and dining.