Lotte Tour Development Attracts Over 100,000 Foreign Cruise Tourists This Year, More Than Double Last Year's Total

Attracted a cumulative 103,979 cruise tourists through September
More than double last year's full-year total of 50,000 in just nine months

Lotte Tour Development said on Tuesday that the cumulative number of foreign tourists it has attracted to Korea through its cruise inbound business this year has topped 100,000.

As of last month, Lotte Tour Development had attracted 103,979 cruise tourists. That was an increase of about 108% from the 50,000 visitors it attracted over the whole of last year. By the end of September this year, its cumulative total had already exceeded twice last year's full-year figure.

An MSC cruise ship carrying foreign tourists. Provided by Lotte Tour Development.

The number of tourists attracted has also steadily increased year by year. The number of foreign cruise tourists brought to Korea rose from 24,000 in 2023 to 38,000 in 2024 and 50,000 in 2025, with growth accelerating significantly this year.

Lotte Tour Development is expanding its record of attracting tourists through its network of global cruise lines. Royal Caribbean accounted for the largest share, with about 52,000 passengers, followed by MSC with about 22,000 and Princess with about 17,000.

Among the regions visited this year by foreign tourists who used Lotte Tour Development's cruise inbound services, Busan ranked first with about 60,000 visitors, followed by Jeju with about 30,000, Incheon with more than 11,000, and Yeosu with 2,800.

Baek Hyun, president of Lotte Tour Development, said, "The cruise inbound business generates positive ripple effects across the tourism industry, extending beyond attracting tourists to earning foreign currency and revitalizing local economies. We will continue to strengthen the competitiveness of our cruise inbound business and work to contribute to the development of Korea's tourism industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.