South Korea will from the third quarter of the year offer a visa exemption for group tours from China in a bid to boost tourism, the government has announced.
News agency Reuters said the move is in response to sluggish domestic tourism demand, quoting acting Korean President Choi Sang-mok as stating, “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.”
South Korea is aiming to attract 18.5 million foreign visitors this year, which would if achieved see it exceed pre-COVID visitor arrivals. The country welcomed 16.4 million arrivals in 2024, up 48% year-on-year but still below the 17.5 million arrivals in 2019. Of the 16.4 million who arrived in 2024, 28% were from China – making it the nation’s top tourism source market.
Reuters noted that Korea is expected to endure a slowdown in economic growth this year due to weak consumer spending which has been attributed to political uncertainty following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s shock decision in December to declare emergency martial law.
Any increase in international visitation would also be viewed positively by the nation’s large foreigner-only casino industry, which was hit particularly hard by border closures during the pandemic.
South Korea is home to 17 foreigner-only casinos versus just one casino open to locals in Kangwon Land.
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