PATA’s Annual Tourism Monitor, released on Oct. 22, shows Vietnam and South Korea’s arrival numbers as of the early months of 2026 were up 14.9% year-on-year and 21.4%.
Vietnam received 19.5 million foreign visitors through October, according to its National Statistics Office.
South Korea’s estimated numbers had surpassed its earlier full-year record of 18.94 million by Oct. 27, its tourism ministry said, as reported by Yonhap.
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The Golden Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam. Photo by Unsplash |
Both countries also exceeded pre-pandemic visitor numbers.
Vietnam saw a 44.5% increase over the corresponding period in 2019, while South Korea’s was 28.4% higher.
Their growth stood out against an uneven regional recovery.
The 44 destinations tracked by PATA welcomed 239 million international visitors, up just 2.9% year-on-year and still 3.7% below the corresponding 2019 level.
Some destinations recorded declines, including Thailand, where international arrivals fell 4.9% year-on-year.
PATA said the next phase of growth would depend on more than restoring visitor numbers.
It urged destinations to attract visitors from a wider range of markets, encourage longer stays, and spread tourism beyond major attractions and peak seasons.