Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s tourism and duty-free industries are expressing optimism following the government’s announcement of a planned temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese tour groups, set to begin in the third quarter of this year.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with industry representatives, revealed on March 23rd that the government intends to implement the visa waiver program for Chinese group tourists. A detailed implementation plan is expected to be released next month. This marks the first time the South Korean government has pursued a comprehensive visa-free policy specifically targeting Chinese tour groups.
The move is aimed at revitalizing the domestic tourism market, and also takes into consideration China’s prior implementation of visa-free entry for South Korean citizens last year.
Industry insiders anticipate that the visa-free initiative will serve as a signal flare, igniting the recovery of the inbound tour group market from China. The tourism sector has been eagerly awaiting a rebound in Chinese tourism, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The duty-free industry, heavily reliant on Chinese tourists, is also poised to benefit from the policy change. Duty-free shops in Seoul and other popular tourist destinations are expected to see a surge in sales as Chinese tour groups return.
The South Korean government hopes that this initiative will not only boost the tourism sector but also strengthen economic ties between the two countries. As the implementation plan is finalized and released, the industry remains hopeful for a swift and successful recovery of the Chinese tourism market in South Korea.
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