South Korea announced on Thursday that it will grant visa exemptions to Chinese tourists starting in the third quarter of this year, aiming to stimulate tourism amid weak domestic demand and in preparation for an upcoming Asia-Pacific summit later this year.
This decision follows China’s November announcement, which extended visa-free entry to South Korean nationals, as well as those from other Asian and European countries, for business, tourism, and family visits, through the end of this year.
South Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum later this year, bringing together leaders from 21 economies in the historic city of Gyeongju, renowned for its heritage tourism.
In 2024, South Korea saw a 48% increase in visitors, welcoming 16.4 million travelers, though still slightly below the 17.5 million recorded in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these visitors, Chinese nationals made up the largest group, accounting for 28%, based on government statistics.
Nearly one-third of the visitors were women in their 20s and 30s.
In recent years, South Korea’s cultural influence—spanning K-pop, fashion, and entertainment—has gained global attention, and the government aims to capitalize on this growing trend.
To further boost tourism, officials are planning to introduce special initiatives, such as customized tour packages focusing on Korean cuisine and beauty products, with a target of attracting 18.5 million visitors in 2025.
However, South Korea’s economic outlook for this year appears less optimistic, as consumer spending remains subdued, largely due to ongoing political instability. This includes the brief and unexpected imposition of martial law in December 2024, which has had a noticeable impact on foreign tourism. Countries such as Australia, France, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Papua New Guinea have all been affected by these developments, with fluctuations in visitor numbers expected throughout the year.
Written by Travel And Tour World
