Korea to begin temporary visa waiver program for Chinese group tourists in late September

Korea will introduce a temporary visa waiver program for Chinese group tourists starting late September, as part of efforts to boost domestic spending and the tourism market, government officials said Wednesday. The visa-free entry will come into force from Sept. 29 to June 30 next year, following a decision made during a government meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok earlier in the day, Kim's office said. The decision came after Beijing announced in November last year that it will waive visa requirements for visitors from Korea and several other countries, effective through the end of next year. The measure will allow visitors to stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa. Relevant government agencies in Seoul had been discussing implementing a reciprocal measure for Chinese group tourists. "With Korea's inbound tourism market recovering rapidly, the implementation of this visa waiver program is expected to help boost demand for travel to Korea, revitalize regional economies and fuel domestic consumption," a government official said. Additionally, the government alsoWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times