Busan: The number of Chinese cruise ship operations from China to South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan is anticipated to surge 21-fold on-year in 2026, according to government data released Monday. This increase coincides with the country's temporary visa waiver scheme for Chinese tourists.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 173 Chinese cruise ship voyages are scheduled for Busan, South Korea's largest seaport, this year. This is a significant rise from just eight operations recorded last year, as per data from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The ministry also projected that the number of tourists arriving on these ships could exceed 800,000.

In an effort to attract more foreign visitors, Seoul announced in September that it would implement a visa waiver for group tourists from six countries, including China, for a nine-month period. This allows groups of three or more Chinese nationals to enter South Korea without visas for stays of up to 15 days.

To accommodate the expected influx of Chinese tourists in Busan this year, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries convened a meeting with related institutions on Monday. The discussion focused on devising countermeasures, including strategies to streamline immigration processes and facilitate quicker entries for tourists.