Published on
September 28, 2025
China, Japan, and the U.S. are driving a remarkable surge in tourism to Seoul, South Korea, with a growing number of visitors flocking to the city each year. This increase in international arrivals has led to major expansions in both the airline and hospitality industries. Airlines such as Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines have responded by adding new routes, enhancing connectivity and making travel to Seoul easier than ever. At the same time, Seoul’s hospitality sector, led by top hotels like Hyatt, is experiencing record occupancy rates, reflecting the city’s newfound status as a must-visit destination. With more travelers seeking to experience its vibrant culture, rich history, and modern attractions, Seoul is quickly becoming one of the world’s top tourism hotspots.
China, Japan, and the U.S. Drive Seoul’s Tourism Surge:
Seoul, South Korea’s vibrant capital, is witnessing an unprecedented tourism surge, thanks to growing travel interest from China, Japan, and the U.S. This rise in global visitors has led to expanded airline routes and record-breaking hotel bookings, making Seoul an increasingly attractive destination. As major airlines enhance services and luxury hotels report exceptional occupancy rates, Seoul’s tourism sector is set to thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Diverse services being offered by airlines further positively affect the increase in tourism. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Delta and United Airlines have all ramped up their services to accommodate the surge in demand, particularly from China, Japan, and the U.S. These changes are contributing significantly to the city’s tourism growth.
China, Japan, and the U.S. together have around 659 million annual passengers, in addition to the 26 million annual passengers from South Korea itself. These routes are therefore being spurred by the increase in demand.
Korean Air’s Expanding Network
Korean Air has become South Korea’s largest airline by responding to inquiries. The additional flights Korean Air has introduced to Beijing and Shanghai reveals the desire to attract potential customers during flight and in the air. Chinese tourists hold the largest demographic of international tourists in Seoul. Korean Air increases the exposure of Seoul to potential customers by offering non-stop flights and ensures that Seoul is easily accessible to travelers coming from China.
Asiana Airlines’ New Routes
New routes for Asiana Airlines target Tokyo and Los Angeles. Asiana Airlines is making it easier for tourists to reach Seoul directly by offering additional flights from Japan and the U.S. This is expected to lower the frequency of travel which increases the convenience for the Japanese and American tourists to reach the city and explore.
Delta and United Airlines Serve U.S. Travelers
Both Delta and United Airlines introduced new non-stop flights to Seoul. United Airlines increased the flights to San Francisco and New York and Delta launched new direct services to Seoul. Delta also launched a new direct route to Salt Lake City to Seoul Incheon in June 2025. This adds to the services Delta already offers and increases the flexibility for American travelers. With these new services, Delta and United help make the city of Seoul more accessible to U.S. travelers.
These new services help promote the tourism boom and offer travelers the opportunity to experience more of what Seoul has to offer. With these new routes and expanded services, visitors from the U.S., China and Japan have more options for getting to Seoul.
Hotels in Seoul Reach New Record Highs in Occupancy Rates
Seoul’s hospitality sector has also been impressed by the increase in the number of tourists coming to the city. Hyatt Hotels in Seoul have also been witnessing record levels of occupancy by guests. High end hotels in the city have also been performing really well in the last few months catering to the increase in demand by tourists interested in high end hotels in the city.
Exceptional Occupancy Rates by Hyatt Hotels
Hyatt Centric and Grand Hyatt Seoul have been performing exceptionally well in the last few months. Both Hotels have been witnessing increases in the number of guests coming in all the way from different continents and as a result the occupancy has also been nearly 100 percent. The guests have developed a preference for the Hyatt hotels due to the attention given to them and the extra efforts made by the Hyatt hospitality to accommodate and welcome guests from a multitude of cultural backgrounds.
The hotel’s proximity to important places such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Myeongdong, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza only adds to the demand for the hotels. The Hyatt brand in the city has been known to offer the highest levels of hospitality.
Other Hotel Chains Experience Increased Demand
Similar to Marriott, Intercontinental, and Four Seasons, established international hotel chains are also experiencing strong demand and occupancy rates. These hotels are expanding service offerings to accommodate this demand, creating new packages to improve tourist experiences. For example, special additions such as cultural offerings and tailored sightseeing tour promotions are designed to optimize tourism in Seoul.
Seoul’s hotels are increasingly responsive to international traveler’s specific demands, designing their services to include multilingual personnel and globally recognized service delivery standards. These facilities guarantee clients a trouble-free experience.
China, Japan and the US Lead the Increase in Tourists to Seoul
China, Japan, and the US are the most important source markets for tourism to Seoul. Each of the countries has and continues to send a significant number of visitors to Seoul and has technocultural and economic value.
China’s Dominance in Tourism Numbers
Chinese tourists visit Seoul in greatest numbers compared to any other nation, totaling more than 4.5 million in the year 2024. This figure constitutes a considerable percentage of the total foreign tourists to Seoul. The extraordinary popularity of K-pop, the rapid spread of Korean skincare and beauty products, and the unique combination of contemporary and historical attractions in Seoul are major factors in the annual influx of several millions of tourists from China. In light of this demand, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have expanded their flight offerings to the primary Chinese metropolises, such as Shanghai and Beijing, facilitating access to the capital for Chinese tourists.
Japan: A Consistent Source of Visitors
For a considerable period of time, Japan has been at the top of the list in terms of the total volume of tourists visiting Seoul, and this is unlikely to change. In 2024, more than 3 million Japanese tourists came to the city, visiting the historical sites and other cultural attractions, the diverse and lively shopping areas, and the myriad restaurants that offer world-class food. The closeness of Seoul to Japan makes it a very convenient destination for the Japanese people for a short weekend vacation, and many of them come for brief periods. The influx of tourists from Japan is supported by the regular air connections to Seoul from Tokyo and Osaka, making them a vital part of the tourism industry in Seoul.
U.S. Visitors Increase
More than 1.5 million Americans are expected to visit Seoul in 2024. Last year, Seoul’s high-tech infrastructure and modern attractions geared toward additional Americans travelers. With the growing interest in Korean culture in the U.S. due to global hits in Korean pop and cinema, additional Americans visitors are expected to frequent Seoul. Moreover, and the rise in frequency of U.S. carriers Delta and United offering direct and conveniently timed flights to Seoul, American visitors to the city have increased over the years.
What Makes Seoul a Must-Visit Destination for Tourists?
Tourists in Seoul have easy access to a first-class city experience and won’t have trouble affording it. Several of the city’s World Heritage sites, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Changdeokgung Palace, as well as the Bukchon Hanok Village, offer visitors opportunities to experience the country’s rich past. Tourists have the option of continuing their journey to experience modern Seoul, with its skyscrapers and architectural modern marvels, as well as its contemporary shopping districts, including Myeongdong and Gangnam.
Seoul is renowned for its delicious food. From savory bibimbap and bulgogi to street food like spicy rice cakes called tteokbokki, the food scene is rich and varied. There are countless options to choose from, whether you are dining in a traditional hanok (Korean house) or taking in the views in one of the many high-end restaurants.
Public transportation is very easy to manage as tourists can go to and from almost any location in the city by taking the subway or a bus. The T-money card makes traveling on public transport and city exploration very simple for tourists.
China, Japan, and the U.S. are fueling a tourism boom in Seoul, driving increased flights and hotel bookings. Major airlines and luxury hotels are expanding services to meet the growing demand from international visitors.
Seoul’s Growing Appeal as a Global Tourism Hub
There is growing interest in traveling to Seoul from primary markets such as China, Japan, and the United States. The increase in airline routs and hotel bookings allows Seoul to expand as a global tourism destination. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta are adding to their service offerings, which helps meet the increase in demand for international flights to Seoul.
Although, the hospitality sector provides high-grade accommodations, including a plethora of five-star hotels, high-end boutiques, and bespoke hotels. With the growth of tourism, Seoul will be one of the most active cities, providing high-quality, extraordinary services, and accommodations, to visitors and tourists from every part of the world.
