Daegu Tourism Reaps Major Benefits from World Masters Athletics Championships

【Financial News Daegu=Kim Jang-wook】"Thank you, World Masters Athletics Championships Daegu 2026!"
Daegu City reported that the number of foreign tourists visiting major attractions in the city rose sharply after the opening of the World Masters Athletics Championships Daegu 2026 on Aug. 21.
According to the city, demand for local tourism among foreign visitors showed a clear increase across major attractions during the event, from Aug. 22 to 31.
With approximately 4,600 foreign visitors from 106 countries coming to Daegu to participate in the event, they were also found to be engaging in tourism, shopping and various activities throughout the city center.
Hwang Bo-ran, director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, emphasized, "The number of foreign tourists visiting the region has actually been increasing since the opening of the World Masters Athletics Championships Daegu 2026. We will use this event as an opportunity to raise Daegu's profile and revive stagnant tourism demand."
A total of 235 foreign passengers used the city tour buses over the 10-day period. The number of foreign visitors taking part in the Modern Alley Tour, one of Daegu's signature tourism products, increased more than fivefold from usual levels.
Park Yu-gyeong, a Jung-gu alley culture interpreter working at the Cheongna Hill Tourist Information Center, said with a smile, "It seems that the number of foreign visitors to the tourist center is about four times higher than usual. The Night Stroll Tour, held every Friday and Saturday, is especially popular, attracting far more participants than the appropriate capacity each time."
The average number of foreign tourists visiting tourist information centers at major attractions—including Daegu International Airport and Dongdaegu Station, Daegu's gateways, as well as Daegu Dongseong-ro Street and E-World—rose to 314 per day, about four times the usual figure.
Requests from foreign visitors for explanations by cultural tourism interpreters at Seomun Market, Cheongna Hill, Donghwasa Temple and Inheung Village also increased 1.5-fold, averaging 139 per day.
Foreign use of the Apsan Cable Car, one of the city's major tourism facilities, rose by more than 40%, while the number of foreign visitors to Dongseong-ro Sparkland increased by nearly 70%.
The increase in foreign tourists also led to higher visitor numbers and sales in the accommodation, food and beverage sectors.
Despite August being traditionally the off-season for Daegu's lodging industry, major tourist hotels are recording room occupancy rates close to full capacity. Foreign visitors are also continuing to patronize nearby food and beverage establishments.
Lee Sang-hwa, head of management support at Hotel Inter-Burgo Exco, said, "The influx of foreign tourists has pushed room occupancy above 80%, an increase of about 90% from the previous year. Sales at our food and beverage outlets have also risen accordingly."

[email protected] Kim Jang-wook Reporter