[iNews24 reporter Jinwoo Lee] The Gyeongsangbuk-do tourism market expanded in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by rising domestic and international visitors and a growing trend toward food- and culture-centered spending.
According to the Gyeongbuk Cultural Tourism Corporation's \"Q4 2025 Tourism Statistics Analysis,\" visits to Gyeongbuk rose as out-of-province domestic visitors increased 16.5% to 7,039,480 and foreign visitors climbed 20% to 242,146. The agency attributed the uptick to heightened regional awareness after hosting the APEC summit, which translated into real tourism demand.
![Gyeongsangbuk-do tourism statistics. [Photo: Gyeongbuk Provincial Government]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2026/03/CP-2023-0087/image-bc12b202-5843-444b-81e7-168478ea380a.png)
Analysis of navigation searches, social media activity, and card-spending data revealed a distinct local-first travel pattern that mixes history-focused outings with culinary experiences.
Navigation search data showed Bulguksa stayed at the top of the list, while the National Gyeongju Museum jumped from 13th to 2nd year-over-year thanks to the Silla crown special exhibition. Goryeong’s Dasan ginkgo grove and a cosmos flower garden also climbed the rankings as picture-perfect fall spots.
On social media, mentions of traveling in Gyeongbuk rose 33% year-over-year. Hosting APEC boosted interest in Gyeongju and the Bomun Tourist Complex, and historic cultural sites like Andong’s Hahoe Village continued to receive positive buzz.
![Foreign tourists visit Bulguksa in Gyeongju. [Photo: Gyeongbuk Provincial Government]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2026/03/CP-2023-0087/image-78357919-ab01-4f9a-88e3-5a4c34aacb73.jpeg)
Tourism spending increased 9.4% year-over-year to about 1.5021 trillion KRW (≈ ₩1,502,100,000,000; roughly $1.13 billion). In lodging, condo stays surged, and spending on bakeries and beverages rose as local desserts and cafe-hopping grew in popularity.
By city and county, visitor growth was highest in Yeongyang County (21.4%), Mungyeong City (21.2%), and Yeongdeok County (19.4%). Analysts pointed to wellness tourism around Yeongyang’s birch forests and Dudeul Village, festivals like Mungyeong’s Yakdol Hanwoo and local apple events, and Yeongdeok’s new highway and stronger demand for snow crab tourism as key drivers.
Kim Nam-il, president of the Gyeongbuk Cultural Tourism Corporation, said hosting the APEC summit elevated Gyeongbuk’s international profile and helped bring more visitors. He added the agency will beef up gastronomy- and experience-focused tourism offerings to grow Gyeongbuk into a global destination.
