This year's Korea Grand Sale from Jan. 11 to Feb. 29 attracted a record 120,000 foreign tourists. Shown is a visitor receiving a gift at the welcome center in one of Seoul's top three districts for international visitors. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

This year's Korea Grand Sale, an international shopping, cultural and tourism extravaganza, has ended its 50-day run after attracting a record 120,000 foreign tourists.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Visit Korea Committee on March 6 announced the results of the event that ran from Jan. 11 to Feb. 29.

Launched in 2011, Korea Grand Sale over the past 13 years has been the country's leading shopping and tourism festival for visitors from overseas featuring flight, accommodation, shopping, food and beverage, interactive and convenience services offered by private companies.

A record-high 1,650 businesses participated in this year's festival under the theme "Your Special Moment in Korea."

Nine domestic airlines sold about 87,500 discounted flight tickets during the event "K-Travel Promotion." A shopping campaign joined by major duty free shops, department stores, hypermarkets and discount outlets also reported sales growth of 269% by duty free shops and 122% by department stores.

The number of visitors to the welcome centers of Seoul's three prime tourist areas of Myeong-dong, Hongdae and Seongsu reached 21,770, or over double last year's figure.

The event's 74 interactive events on themes like K-pop, beauty and food saw a seven-fold jump from last year. Approximately 900 visitors from 52 countries joined such programs to enjoy "special moments" in the country.

A survey of foreign travelers who visited the welcome centers found that 90.8% were satisfied with Korea Grand Sale and 89.2% pledged to visit the country again over the festival period.

aisylu@korea.kr