Korea Just Hit a Record Tourism Quarter — So Why Was the GCC the Only Market That Fell?
In Q1 2026, Korea welcomed 4.74 million international visitors — a record high, up 22.6% year-on-year. March alone broke 2 million arrivals in a single month for the first time ever. China (+26.9%), Japan (+20.1%), Taiwan (+37.2%), and Europe (+27.5%) all posted double-digit growth. But one market stood apart. The GCC was the only major