The number of Chinese visitors to Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, has been increasing rapidly as more travelers look for cultural immersion experiences.
Officials and industry experts said this has contributed to the growth of the local tourism sector.
"China is one of Busan's most important tourism markets, and the steady increase in Chinese visitors has played a key role in driving the unprecedented growth in international arrivals to the city," said Amy Lee, a marketing manager at the Busan Tourism Organization.
In the first half of this year, more than 2.42 million foreign travelers visited Busan, with nearly 20 percent coming from the Chinese mainland, according to municipal data released in July.
Arrivals from the Chinese mainland surged 90.7 percent year-on-year, making it one of the highest growth rates among all major source markets.
