Seoul, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – Government data released on Sunday showed that South Korea’s travel account posts surplus for 3rd consecutive month in May, supported by a significant rise in incoming foreign visitors. According to figures compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization and reported by Yonhap News Agency, the travel account recorded a surplus of $220.5 million during the month. This figure represents a sharp reversal from the deficit of $820.2 million recorded during the same period in the previous year. The latest monthly positive balance follows a surplus of $263.8 million in March, marking the continuation of a recovery trend that broke a prolonged 72-month streak of deficits that began in March 2020. Financial records for May indicate that total travel income reached $2.58 billion, surpassing total travel spending of $2.36 billion by foreign and domestic travelers. Detailed expenditure metrics show that individual foreign visitors spent an average of $1,324 while traveling within the country, whereas outbound Korean travelers spent an average of $1,007 while visiting destinations overseas. Separate government data published alongside the tourism statistics indicated that 1.95 million foreign nationals arrived in South Korea in May, reflecting a 19.4 percent increase compared to the same month one year prior. Conversely, the number of domestic residents traveling abroad declined by 2.1 percent over the same timeframe, dropping to 2.34 million outbound travelers. Industry analysts and academic experts noted that shifting macroeconomic factors and regional travel dynamics heavily influenced the monthly financial outcomes. Kim Nam-jo, a professor of tourism at Hanyang University, stated that foreign visitor arrivals expanded sharply due to the broader popularity of cultural exports and a weakening domestic currency valuation. At the same time, higher airfares resulting from ongoing disruptions and conflicts in the Middle East discouraged domestic residents from booking international flights. These combined economic conditions reduced outbound tourism spending while simultaneously amplifying inbound tourism revenue across major metropolitan shopping and cultural districts. Financial Performance Metrics of Travel Income and Spending The consecutive monthly surpluses represent a notable shift from historical travel account performance indicators recorded over the past decade. Prior to the turnaround observed earlier this year, the travel sector experienced sustained deficits as outbound travel expenditures traditionally exceeded inbound visitor receipts. The recent stabilization is part of a broader macroeconomic recovery in the country’s current account balance, which measures international trade in goods and services, primary income, and secondary transfers. Government trade officials point to sustained visitor arrivals as a primary contributor to bolstering domestic service sector revenues during the late spring period. National statistical agencies continue to track international passenger movements and tourist spending patterns to assess the durability of the current travel surplus. Border control records indicate that visitor arrivals from neighboring Asian markets…