South Korea Visa-free Programme Trails For Chinese Tourists Boosts Its Tourism Demand And Strengthen New Economic Partnership

Published on October 28, 2025

Tourism manufacture of South Korea is starting to acquisition a tremendous surge successful visitors from mainland China pursuing nan motorboat of a trial visa-free programme for group travelers. The move, launched connected September 29 and lasting up to June 2024, opens nan doorway for groups of 3 aliases much Chinese mainland visitors to participate South Korea without a visa for up to a 15-day stay. Industry players person noted that nan argumentation has already started to rejuvenate nan tourism industry, particularly successful position of rising request for circuit services and attendant accommodations.

Jeju Island: The Initial Hotspot for Visa-Free Tourists

Currently, Jeju Island is nan only destination successful South Korea wherever some individuals and group tourists from mainland China tin participate visa-free. As a result, Jeju has go a major hotspot for Chinese tourists. Sam Chan, wide head of BSS Travel successful Seoul, emphasized that Jeju’s fame has been growing rapidly since nan preamble of nan visa-free programme. Chan mentioned, “Since Jeju Island is very celebrated now, we will put circuit guides to recreation location to lead circuit groups.”

However, Chan expressed nan dream that if nan visa-free argumentation expands beyond Jeju to awesome cities for illustration Seoul, location would beryllium a substantial growth successful business for coaches, hotels, and tour guides crossed nan country, further boosting South Korea’s tourism infrastructure.

Increasing Demand for South Korea arsenic a Travel Destination

Qiu Kexi, president of BCTS Travel Service successful Hunan province, noted a significant surge successful customer liking astatine his agency since nan visa waiver argumentation was announced. He explained that nan number of inquiries astir South Korea has risen substantially, reflecting an expanding desire among Chinese visitors to sojourn nan country. “We person besides seen an summation successful searches for Korean tourer spots connected various platforms domestically,” Qiu said.

The increasing request has sparked optimism among recreation manufacture stakeholders that this inaugural whitethorn beryllium expanded. “As agelong arsenic this visa-free argumentation for tour groups is successful, it will summation nan chances of this measurement being extended, while making it imaginable to grow it to screen individual visits,” Qiu added.

A Step Toward Stronger China-South Korea Relations

This move by Seoul follows a reciprocal motion by Beijing, which introduced visa exemptions for South Korean nationals successful November of nan erstwhile year. The 2 countries’ visa-free policies are not only fostering tourism maturation but are besides seen arsenic a measurement toward strengthening bilateral relations. By facilitating easier people-to-people exchanges, nan governments are aiming to build stronger cultural ties and heighten economic cooperation betwixt nan 2 nations.

Qiu observed that, pursuing China’s implementation of its visa-free argumentation for South Korean tourists successful November 2022, location was a noticeable rise successful nan number of South Korean visitors to China. According to his agency’s data, nan number of South Korean visitors to China accrued by more than 910,000, marking a important surge successful tourism betwixt nan 2 countries.

Economic and Cultural Benefits for Both Nations

Analysts propose that expanding tourism flows betwixt China and South Korea will supply important economic benefits, including boosting local businesses, hotel bookings, and tourism services successful some countries. Additionally, fostering deeper people-to-people exchanges will heighten taste understanding, helping to solidify stronger diplomatic relations.

The visa-free programme for group tourists is besides expected to thief South Korea reinforce its position arsenic a leading destination successful Asia for Chinese tourists. With nan occurrence of this programme, it is apt that different countries successful nan region whitethorn travel suit successful offering similar incentives to pull tourists, fostering a much connected recreation network crossed Asia.

Looking Ahead: A Boost to South Korea’s Tourism Industry

With nan proceedings visa-free programme continuing, nan South Korean tourism manufacture has overmuch to summation from a precocious upsurge successful nan number of visitors, particularly from China, which is still among nan biggest sources of overseas visitors for South Korea. The argumentation offers an important chance for South Korea to retrieve and revive its tourism industry, which has been recovering from nan devastating impacts of nan COVID-19 pandemic.

In nan agelong run, this measurement tin besides pave nan measurement for greater relaxation of visas for individual travelers, resulting successful predominant and varied recreation acquisition betwixt China and South Korea. It besides promotes cross-border cooperation, guaranteeing nan improvement of sustainable tourism and expanding some countries’ world attractiveness.