Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea: Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 23.84 million guests in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
23.84 million guests
Change on year
up 18.1%
World rank
18th
of 96 countries
All-time high
23.84 million guests
in 2018
All-time low
9.86 million guests
in 2015
Years of data
10
2009–2018

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea, 2009–2018

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M25.0M2009201320182009: 10.9M guests2010: 12.0M guests2011: 12.0M guests2012: 12.1M guests2013: 12.0M guests2014: 10.9M guests2015: 9.9M guests2016: 16.0M guests2017: 20.2M guests2018: 23.8M guests

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.

Analysis

In 2018, local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea stood at 23.84 million guests. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of up 18.1% on the previous year and up 117.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea peaked at 23.84 million guests in 2018 and was at its lowest, 9.86 million guests, in 2015.

Republic of Korea ranks 18th of 96 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea, year by year

Annual values for Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea, 2009 to 2018.
Year guests Change
2009 10.95 million guests
2010 12.00 million guests +9.6%
2011 12.02 million guests +0.2%
2012 12.08 million guests +0.5%
2013 12.03 million guests -0.4%
2014 10.94 million guests -9.1%
2015 9.86 million guests -9.8%
2016 16.00 million guests +62.2%
2017 20.19 million guests +26.1%
2018 23.84 million guests +18.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 10.95 million guests 10.95 million guests 10.95 million guests 1
2010s 14.33 million guests 9.86 million guests 23.84 million guests 9

Countries ranked near Republic of Korea

  1. 15 Canada 34.39 million guests
  2. 16 Poland 30.64 million guests compare
  3. 17 Iran 25.70 million guests
  4. 19 Malaysia 19.87 million guests compare
  5. 20 Sweden 19.21 million guests compare
  6. 21 Netherlands 16.47 million guests compare

See the full ranking of 96 places →

More reference data data for Republic of Korea

All data for Republic of Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea?
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea was 23.84 million guests in 2018, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Republic of Korea?
The highest recorded value was 23.84 million guests in 2018.
What is the lowest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Republic of Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 9.86 million guests in 2015.
How does Republic of Korea rank for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
Republic of Korea ranks 18th out of 96 countries with data for 2018.
Is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 117.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Republic of Korea. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/domestic-guests-in-tourism-accommodation-hotels-and-similar-establishments-vs-foreign/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Unit
guests
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
96 places, 1,992 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.