The number of foreign tourists visiting South Korea in a single year cleared the ten-million mark in 2012 for the first time ever.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Tourism Organization and the Visit Korea Committee celebrated the milestone event at Incheon International Airport on November 21st by holding a welcoming ceremony for the ten millionth person to visit the country this year. The visitor arrived on a flight from Shanghai.

The number of foreign tourists hit the one-million mark in 1978 and has since sharply increased by an annual average of 15 percent. The number topped the five million mark in 2000 and the seven million mark in 2010.

Despite the global economic recession, a growing number of foreigners visited South Korea this year, particularly those from China and Japan.

The culture ministry and the Korea Tourism Organization plan to focus on developing high value-added tour packages and opening large-scale international conferences in South Korea.

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