The number of foreign tourists that visited Dokdo Island last year increased greatly. (Image : Yonhap)
POHANG, Jan.14 (Korea Bizwire) – The number of foreign tourists that visited Dokdo Island last year increased greatly.
According to Dokdo’s management office, 733 foreign tourists visited in 2015, which was five times more than the 127 foreign visitors in 2014.
Since the island was opened to the public, 99 visited in 2005, 157 in 2006, 126 in 2007, 64 in 2008, 85 in 2009, 215 in 2010 and 100 in 2011.
The number of visitors peaked at 266 in 2012. However, after 161 visitors in 2013, visits decreased greatly to 217 in 2014 due to the Sewol ferry incident.
In the 11 years since 2005, the total number of foreigners who visited Dokdo reached 2,133. Just like Korean citizens, foreigners can also register and enter the island.
Despite the outbreak of MERS, the number of Korean and foreign visitors to visit Dokdo increased greatly, due to the fact that 2015 was Korea’s 70th anniversary of independence. The total number of visitors including foreigners reached 178,000, which was a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Dokdo officials commented that the continuous promotion of the island and the meaningful occasion of the 70th anniversary of independence may have piqued foreigners’ interest in Dokdo.
Officials plan to improve accessibility to the island to attract more tourists.
By Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
