"Surge in Foreign Tourists Boosts Casino Stocks to Record Highs"

# Shares of Casino Operators Surge Amid Influx of Tourists from Japan and China SEOUL—Shares of companies managing foreigner-only casinos in South Korea are climbing, buoyed by a surge in foreign tourists, predominantly from Japan and China. Data from the Korea Exchange on June 20 shows Lotte Tour Development's shares trading at 11,270 won as of 10:30 a.m., an increase of 1.53% from the previous day's closing price of 11,000 won. On June 16, the stock reached a 52-week high of 11,560 won, highlighting robust demand and investor confidence. The stock has consistently risen since last month, correlating with record-high hotel room occupancy rates. Lotte Tour Development's stock was around 8,220 won on April 1. As of today, shares have surged by 37.1% in just over two months. The company runs the Grand Hyatt Jeju and the Jeju Dream Tower Casino under its flagship property, "Jeju Dream Tower." Market analysts credit Lotte Tour Development’s recent boost to a marked increase in foreign tourist arrivals. Enhanced China-South Korea relations have resulted in more Chinese visitors, while the strong Japanese yen against the Korean won is attracting more Japanese tourists. NH Investment & Securities researcher Lee Hwa-jung noted, "The sustained strength of the yen and improved China-South Korea relations are creating a favorable external environment. Japanese tourists face less currency exchange pressure, incentivizing them to visit Korea. Additionally, temporary visa waivers for Chinese group tourists are expected to drive this trend further." Jeju Dream Tower Casino reported 110,000 visitors during this year’s first quarter, a 38.3% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the "drop amount," or the total wagered, hit a record 481.9 billion won, up 25.3% year-on-year. Other casino operators are also experiencing a rise in their stocks alongside increased tourism. GKL (Grand Korea Leisure) shares rose 0.45% to 13,370 won, compared to the prior day's closing price of 13,310 won, marking a 23.23% increase from 10,850 won on April 1. Meanwhile, shares of Paradise Co. were trading at 13,260 won, down 0.67% from the previous day’s close of 13,350 won but still up 18.92% compared to 11,150 won on April 1. The optimistic trend in foreign tourist arrivals and the thriving casino sector point to a broader recovery in Korea’s tourism and leisure industry as favorable geopolitical and currency conditions continue to align.