Starting Monday, the Republic of Korea launched a nine-month visa-free policy for Chinese tour groups, responding to China’s own exemption for South Korean visitors. Beyond unlocking new travel plans, this reciprocal move aims to reinvigorate tourism and strengthen ROK-China ties.
Facing a slowdown under global headwinds and structural challenges at home, Seoul has targeted tourism as a key engine for recovery. Chinese visitors, historically the largest source of inbound travelers, are expected to drive growth in hotels, retail and jobs.
Before the pandemic, China accounted for 47.5 percent of foreign arrivals in the ROK, with over eight million visits in 2016. Despite dips after the THAAD deployment and COVID-19, numbers rebounded from 2.02 million in 2023 to 4.6 million in 2024—28.1 percent of total overseas visitors.
Demand spiked immediately after the visa waiver announcement: searches for flights to Seoul on Qunar.com jumped nearly 70 percent in just one hour. Businesses are already preparing for group tours set to coincide with major holidays.
Chinese travelers are major spenders, averaging $1,689 per person in 2019—outpacing Americans and Japanese. Duty-free shops, airlines and hotels see the policy as a tangible boost to consumer spending and sales recovery.
Beyond tourism, the strategy reflects Seoul’s push for economic diversification and risk mitigation amid shifting global supply chains. By tapping into China’s vast travel market, the ROK aims to shore up domestic demand and deepen bilateral engagement in a changing world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
