Night tourism programs and seasonal festivals drive steady growth in travel demand
The coastal city of Yeosu in South Jeolla Province continues to strengthen its reputation as a night-time tourism destination, recording more than 10 million visitors for the fourth year in a row, according to the Yeosu city government on November 11.
As of November 9, the number of visitors to Yeosu reached 10.37 million, up roughly 50,000 from the same period last year. The tally is based on visitor counts at 40 major attractions, including the Yeosu World Expo site, the Marine Cable Car, and Odongdo Island. Yeosu has consistently exceeded the 10-million-visitor mark since 2022, when it recorded 12.1 million visitors.
Tourist numbers saw a notable increase this fall. Benefiting from an extended Chuseok holiday, Yeosu welcomed 1.37 million visitors in October, significantly higher than the 1.02 million recorded in October last year.
City officials attribute the steady growth to the success of night tourism offerings, which highlight the city’s waterfront scenery. Programs such as the Candlelight Concert, seaside evening walking tours, marine park events, and night-time cable car rides have become popular attractions among domestic travelers seeking unique travel experiences.
Yeosu plans to maintain its momentum through the end of the year with a lineup of concerts, seasonal festivals, and sporting events designed to attract additional visitors.
Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong stated, “Yeosu has evolved into a leading marine leisure and tourism city. We will continue to enhance visitor experience and aim to reach 12 million visitors again, as we did in 2022.”