South Korea has announced a visa exemption for Chinese mainland group tourists in the third quarter of this year, aiming to boost tourism and strengthen cultural exchanges between the neighboring countries.
“We will introduce in the third quarter a temporary visa waiver for group tourists from China to speed up the recovery in the number of Chinese visitors,” said Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting president.
The decision comes amid efforts to revitalize the country’s tourism sector ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum later this year in Gyeongju, a city renowned for its heritage tourism.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded positively to the announcement, stating that enhancing cultural exchanges serves the interests of both sides.
According to analysis by the research institute of Ctrip, a leading Chinese online travel agency, the visa-free policy will significantly enhance convenience for Chinese tourists. The simplified visa process is expected to attract more elderly and family travelers, as well as stimulate group travel demand from smaller Chinese cities.
Data from Ctrip shows that travel bookings to South Korea by Chinese mainland tourists have increased by nearly 20 percent year on year. Chinese nationals made up the largest share of international travelers visiting South Korea last year, accounting for 28 percent, according to government data.
The return of Chinese group tourists is anticipated to boost South Korea’s retail, duty-free, and catering industries, further promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two neighbors.
