Seoul: South Korea's tourism and retail sectors are preparing for a significant increase in Chinese travelers as a temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese tour groups takes effect. From Monday through June 30 next year, Chinese group tourists, organized by designated travel agencies, can enter South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days. Meanwhile, Jeju Island will maintain its existing visa-free entry policy for up to 30 days for both individual and group travelers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government anticipates that the new visa-free entry policy will attract an additional 1 million Chinese visitors by June 2025, as part of broader efforts to boost inbound tourism. The policy takes effect during China's National Day holiday, which runs from October 1-7, a peak travel period expected to serve as an early indicator of the policy's impact.
Industry officials expect limited immediate effects, as the announcement in August came after many Chinese tourists had already planned their October travels. However, they predict an increase in arrivals toward the end of this year and into early 2026. This move follows China's decision last November to temporarily waive visas for South Korean visitors and several other countries until the end of next year.
The influx of Chinese tourists is already rebounding, with 392,000 visitors recorded in October last year, reaching about 69% of the pre-pandemic level in October 2019. This figure rose to 602,000 in July this year. In response, South Korean businesses, including hotels, resorts, department stores, and duty-free retailers, are launching marketing campaigns to attract Chinese customers.
Shilla Duty Free has prepared special promotions for passengers arriving on the Dream, a large cruise ship from Tianjin docking at Incheon, offering gifts and discounts of up to 60% on popular cosmetics. Lotte Department Store will provide gifts to Chinese shoppers at its flagship outlet, while Amorepacific Corp. plans to open two Sulwhasoo pop-up stores at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul.