Published on
November 3, 2025
The implementation of mutual visa-free policies between China and South Korea has triggered a positive change in cross-border tourism, moderated the demand for travel and reinforced regional linkage. Since South Korea initiated the temporary visa waiver for Chinese group tourists last September, the two nations have been witnessing an upward trend in tourist numbers, spending, and cultural interactions.
Visa Waiver Policy Promotes Growth in Travel Activity
The South Korea policy, which runs from September 29, 2024, up until June 30, 2026, permits Chinese group tourists of three people or more to enter the country without a visa and remain for a period of 15 days. This policy is already showing positive results. During the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in October, Chinese tourists flocked to Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island, demonstrating a significant improvement in China’s outbound tourism.
Previously, Jeju Island was the only destination eligible for visa-free access for Chinese tourists, but the expanded policy enables overseas travel to the cultural and urban centers of South Korea. The travel reciprocal policy from China has also made travel for South Korean tourists to the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
The Most Popular Sites in South Korea for Tourists from China
Ever since the new law has been made, Seoul has been the most visited sight for Chinese tourists, ‘specially for Myeongdong Shopping Street, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Since the law has been made, the capita’s financial areas have been under pressure now due to the newfound increase in Chinese tourists, looking for luxury fashion, skin care, and dutiable items.
Seond in size, Busan has also has seen improvement due to the new formed law. Busan is best known for Haeundae Beach, Jagalchi Fish Market, and Gamcheon Culture Village. Tourists are also now seeking coastal fields and seafood restaurants, which has fueled the city’s growth.
Another city in Korea that still remains popular is Jeju island. Having advanced volcanoes, Jeju also has some of the most astonishing views, which are accessible through simply driving, along with some cultural museums. Jeju’s international aiport has also been improving since the law now allows both individuals and groups from Chinese cities like Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Qingdao.
The Advanced Development Foundation noted that an increasing number of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea. Online travel sites claim that following the new policy, the number of Chinese tourists to South Korea increased by over sixty per cent. The main source markets are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. Airlines have improved services from these cities to the Incheon airport because of the rapidly increasing demand.
Bookings have increased considerably in the past three months for Chinese airborne services provided by China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines, as well as South Korea’s Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. Many of the available tour plans include city excursions to Seoul, strategically paired with minimal stays in nearby cultural hotspots such as Busan or Jeju. Tourists can enjoy South Korea’s spectacular shopping facilities, rich cultural heritage, and delights of culinary artistry.
The mutual visa waiver system, which wasn’t restricted to tourism alone, has assist the advancement of business, educational and cultural exchange relationships between the two nations. In both countries, tour planners have begun crafting itineraries that include film sites and Kpop, as well as history and traditional foods.
Namsan Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Insadong are all within an easy radius of Seoul and highlight Korean culture and architecture. To keep up with tourist demands, shopping centres like Lotte World Mall and COEX Mall provide Mandarin-speaking staff, and accept mobile payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Many South Korean visitors use China’s high-speed rail to Qingdao, Suzhou, and Xi’an, which are the country’s coastal and cultural jewels.
Tourism Infrastructure and Industry Benefits
Service and tourism industries are still merging, each picking up the slack of the other. In South Korea, the integration of new charter services has resulted in improved flight availability from secondary cities in China. The beginning of the month also saw an uptick in demand for Seoul and the surrounding attractions, with higher hotel occupancy rates being reported.
Gimhae International Airport in Busan and International Airport in Jeju and China’s Pudong and Daxing Airports are all in the process of increasing border control to facilitate foreign arrivals. In the case of South Korean customers, they enjoy faster processing and e-gate access, bilingual services, and assistance at the counters.
In a joint statement, the Korea Tourism Organisation and the China National Tourism Administration indicated their intent to strengthen border promotional activities on cultural activities, culinary festivals, and flight connections to sustain activities through 2025 and 2026, well after the expiry of the original policy.
Growth in Cultural and Retail Tourism
The removal of mutual travel restrictions is also expected to stimulate both retail and cultural tourism. In South Korea, Chinese tourists remain the most important customers in the duty-free free for cosmetics, fashion, and electronics. Retail areas such as Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam have reintroduced Chinese-language signs and staff in anticipation of the expected increase in tourists.
On the other hand, Chinese primary students, who are studying Korean, are very excited to visit cultural sights such as the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Bund in Shanghai, and the panda reserve in Chengdu. In addition, some Chinese provinces have also started to hold exhibitions and cultural fairs to promote Korean food, films, and fashion to increase cultural exchange.
Conclusions
The prediction is that the growth of tourism in South Korea and China is going to be rapidly increasing in the period before 2026 and is only going to get better as flight restrictions are relaxed and more flights are offered. According to experts, this increase in the number of travellers is expected to positively influence the economy of both countries and improve the relations between their citizens.
The implementation of bilateral visa waiver agreements is another important development in the enhancement of tourism in Northeast Asia, as it simplifies travel, boosts economic collaboration, and promotes greater cultural appreciation between the two countries.
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