South Korea Offers Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Group Tours from September

South Korea is ready to roll out the welcome mat for Chinese tour groups this fall. Starting September 29 and running through June 30, next year, Chinese visitors traveling in organized groups will no longer need a visa to enter the country, the prime minister’s office announced on Wednesday.

The move comes just under a year after China lifted its own visa rules for South Korean nationals. It marks the broadest easing of entry rules for Chinese travelers since the pandemic, and offers a clear sign that both capitals are looking to deepen ties through tourism.

It’s unclear the duration for which the tourists can stay visa free in the country as the government has yet to announce the maximum duration for group tourists under the new policy.

In November 2024, China surprised many by adding South Korea to its visa-free list for stays up to 15 days. “With Korea’s inbound tourism market recovering rapidly, the new visa waiver policy is expected to generate additional demand from Chinese tourists and contribute to revitalizing regional economies and boosting domestic demand,” a government statement said.

Earlier, Chinese group travelers could only visit Jeju Island visa-free, and only for up to 30 days. A brief window of exemptions for group tours during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangwon Province offered limited scope. But this new policy applies nationwide, no matter how visitors arrive.

According to Skift Research’s 2025 Travel Outlook Survey, travelers from India and China lead in plans to spend on travel.

Tourism is staging a strong comeback for South Korea. Last year, the country welcomed 16.37 million international visitors, a 48% increase over 2023, though still 6.5% below its pre-pandemic peak. Chinese tourists led the way with 4.6 million arrivals.

In the first half of 2025, 8.83 million overseas visitors came to Korea, almost 15% more than a year earlier and already above pre-pandemic levels. Of these, Chinese tourists made up the biggest share with 2.53 million arrivals. Seoul hopes to draw 5.36 million Chinese visitors this year, closing in on the 6.02 million recorded in 2019.

A World Travel & Tourism Council report released last year said the tourism industry in South Korea was projected to account for 4.3% of the nation’s economy. In 2024, foreign visitors spent more money than ever, pouring 9.26 trillion won ($6.9 billion) into the local economy in 2024, around 43% more compared to the year before.

The Bank of Korea estimates that every additional million Chinese tourists could lift GDP by up to 0.08 percentage points. Incheon Airport data show that routes between Korea and China saw 4.68 million passengers in the first five months of 2025, a nearly 25% jump compared to last year.

The top-visited destinations for Chinese travelers are Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, according to China Trading Desk’s second quarter survey released in June.

More than 100 countries enjoy visa-exemption privileges in South Korea, under pacts based on reciprocity or national interest. Depending on the country, stays range from 30 days to up to six months for countries like Canada.

South Korea isn’t stopping at visa waivers. It plans to speed up immigration for key visitors to conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions. Under the new plan, any international event with at least 300 foreign participants (down from 500) will qualify attendees for fast-track lanes at immigration. This should help Korea’s push to be a top-tier destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

Medical tourism is getting a boost too. Agencies that refer 500 or more foreign patients will now be able to handle electronic visas.

Korean carriers are boosting capacity across Asia, launcing new routes and adding flights to Japan, China and Southeast Asia. This month, Korean Air increased its weekly China service from 188 to 194 flights, this is about 90% of its pre-pandemic schedule. Since May, Asiana has added 26 weekly flights to China. Low-cost carrier Jeju Air now offers seven weekly services to China.

South Korea’s foreigners-only casinos have also been witnessing a significant rise in their sales revenue with the return of high rollers from China and Japan. Paradise Co, the largest such operator in Korea, saw its casino revenues climb by more than 50% in March 2025 compared to the year before, posting 81 billion won ($58 million) in casino revenue, according to the Korea Economic Daily.

September 16-18, 2025 - NEW YORK CITY