South Korea posted a record deficit in its tourism account last year due to China’s retaliation against the deployment of the THAAD antimissile system and a sharp increase in the number of South Koreans traveling abroad.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization on Wednesday, tourism revenue spent by foreigners in South Korea marked 13-point-three billion dollars last year, down 22-point-five percent from a year earlier. 

South Koreans spent over 27 billion dollars abroad last year, up 14-point-three percent on-year. 

The resulting tourism deficit is tallied at 13-point-seven billion dollars, more than doubling from a year earlier.

The nation posted a tourism deficit for the 17th consecutive year since 2001.