Korea ranks 15th in travel & tourism development rankings, fourth in Asia

[Photo by Yonhap]

South Korea ranked No. 15 in global scale, its highest yet, in terms of travel and tourism potential last year, four notches higher from the previous year.

According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WKF) last week, Korea moved up four notches to 15th in the overall rankings of the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021, with a score of 4.8 among 117 countries.

Japan topped the list, followed by the United States and Spain. In Asia, Singapore ranked second-largest ninth, and China third-largest 12th.

Korea achieved the biggest leap in a year in the top 30. It marks the highest ranking in history as well.

The WKF announced the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index biannually since 2007. With rapid changes in market circumstances and variables, the rankings have been updated to the Travel & Tourism Development Index this year.

Newly added indicators include climate/environment/greenhouse gas emissions, use of digital platforms, and poverty rate/social protection basic coverage/gender inequality index, as well as accessibility of healthcare services and communicable disease incidence.

Korea moved up 10 notches with the highest score in the travel and tourism policy and enabling conditions category and ranked 14th in the categories of infrastructure and travel and tourism demand drivers.

[¨Ï Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]