Known for its sprawling coastlines, bustling traditional markets and vibrant local cuisine, Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan has long relied on broad statistical surveys to gauge its appeal to foreign travelers. But this summer, municipal officials decided to swap numbers for direct conversation, sitting down with international visitors to learn what is actually working — and what needs fixing. The Busan Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that it conducted its first-ever series of in-depth, one-on-one field interviews with foreign tourists, aiming to refine the city's hospitality infrastructure ahead of the autumn travel season. Over three days in late August, researchers interviewed 34 travelers across primary hubs, including Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village and Yongdusan Park. While travelers unanimously praised Busan’s dramatic setting — where mountains meet the sea — and celebrated the warmth of local residents, the study revealed starkly distinct frustrations depending on where the tourists came from. Visitors from the United States and Europe reported s