The tourism boom sparked by last year's APEC Summit in Gyeongju continues to translate into tangible economic success, with the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park experiencing a sharp increase in both visitor numbers and ticket revenue this year.

According to the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture & Tourism Corporation (CEO Kim Nam-il), the park welcomed approximately 214,000 visitors from January to July, marking a 13% increase compared to the same period last year (188,000 visitors). More notably, ticket revenue surged to 1.437 billion KRW, representing an impressive 34% growth from 1.071 billion KRW recorded during the previous year.

The corporation attributes this upward trend to Gyeongju’s elevated global and domestic profile following the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit. The enhanced international status has driven sustained tourism demand, while newly introduced family-oriented experience programs have successfully converted public interest into actual visits.

A standout metric in this growth is the surge in international tourism. Between January and July, international visitors to the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park reached 4,096, marking a remarkable 55% year-on-year increase. This steady stream of foreign travelers underscores Gyeongju's successful transformation into a globally recognized tourism hub following the APEC summit. 

In-house content and seasonal festivals have further fueled this momentum. In May, celebrating Family Month, the park launched "EXPO-REST Children’s Booknic," a cultural program combining books, live performances, and hands-on activities that attracted over 10,000 visitors across three days. This was followed in August by the popular summer horror experience "EX-HORROR," which drew 24,857 visitors looking for unique thrills during the hot summer nights.

Building on these successes, the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park has prepared a rich lineup of content for the upcoming autumn and winter seasons. Starting in late September, the park will host "EX-Pumpkin Night" (September 24–October 24) to offer a whimsical evening autumn experience. This will be followed by a series of cultural and tourism festivals, including the Gyeongbuk Arirang Festival (October 7), the National Jeongdong Theater’s production "Gwangdae" (October 8–10), and the Silk Road Noodle Festival (November 14–15).

In addition to large-scale events, weekend street performances such as mime shows and busking will run continuously from September through November. These initiatives are designed to ensure that visitors can enjoy vibrant sights and entertainment regardless of when they visit, maximizing tourism influx during the peak autumn season and sustaining the momentum through the end of the year.

"The heightened tourism competitiveness of Gyeongju, achieved through last year’s APEC summit, is successfully translating into actual tourism demand and revenue generation this year," said Kim Nam-il, CEO of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture & Tourism Corporation. "Moving into the second half of the year, we will continue to showcase diverse attractions ranging from night-type content to major cultural festivals, ensuring that Gyeongju Expo Grand Park solidifies its position as a premier, year-round tourist destination."

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