South Korea's Culture Ministry reports overseas arrivals

South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said international arrivals rose 21 percent from a year earlier as gains in the Americas, Europe and Oceania helped diversify inbound arrivals.

The ministry said arrivals from the Americas rose 12.7 percent through June, while European arrivals climbed 20.2 percent to 738,943. Other markets, including Oceania, gained 11 percent to 210,509.

The ministry cited new and expanded direct flights, including Virgin Atlantic's daily Incheon-London service launched in March. The service added about 70,000 seats this year, and arrivals from Britain rose 22 percent.

The ministry operates promotional offices in 12 emerging-market locations, supporting travel-product development and marketing. Kang Jeong-won, the ministry's tourism policy chief, said, "The sustained increase in visitors from the Americas, Europe and Oceania is the result of K-culture's high recognition combined with new promotional offices in emerging markets and wide-ranging, locally tailored marketing."