China’s Visa Waiver Policy for South Korea Fuels Hopes for Booming Air Travel
Seoul, South Korea – The recent announcement by the Chinese governmentto implement a visa-free entry policy for South Korean citizens has ignited optimism within the Korean aviation industry, with airlines anticipating a significant surge in passenger traffic on routesto China.
The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reported that passenger volume on flights between South Korea and China reached 10.3 million between Januaryand September of this year, representing only 75.1% of the pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019. In contrast, the number of passengers traveling between South Korea and Japan during the same period reached 18.32 million, a 17.4% increase compared to 2019.
Japan’s decision to reinstate visa-free entry for South Koreans in October 2022 has been a major catalyst for thesurge in travel to Japan. Conversely, the requirement for visas to travel to China has deterred many South Korean tourists, making China a less attractive destination. The Korean aviation industry is hopeful that the new visa-free policy will eliminate the psychological and financial burdens associated with visa applications, thereby revitalizing travel to China.
KoreanAir, for example, is set to resume its Busan-Qingdao route after a four-year hiatus, with daily flights commencing from next month. This move reflects the airline’s confidence in the potential for increased demand.
We expect to see a significant increase in passenger traffic on our routes to China following the implementation ofthe visa-free policy, said a spokesperson for Korean Air. This is a positive development for the Korean aviation industry and for the tourism sector as a whole.
The implementation of the visa-free policy is expected to not only boost travel between South Korea and China but also strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, November 4). 韩航司期待中国对韩免签推高赴华航线客运量 (in Korean)
- Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. (2024). Data on passenger volume between South Korea and China
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