Visa-free Chinese tour groups

Korea’s decision to implement a temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese tour groups is a pragmatic and timely move aimed at reviving the country’s struggling tourism sector and strengthening diplomatic ties with its largest trading partner. From Sept. 29 until June 2026, Chinese citizens traveling in groups of three or more may enter Korea without a visa for stays of up to 15 days. This policy marks a significant shift, coming eight years after the 2017 deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system, which led to a sharp deterioration in Korea–China relations. The government estimates that this measure, paired with the upcoming Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and President Xi Jinping’s anticipated visit to Korea for the APEC summit in October, could attract more than 1 million additional Chinese tourists within the first half of next year. This is welcome news for Korea’s battered retail, tourism and duty free sectors — many of which are still recovering from the pandemic and sluggish domestic consumption. Chinese tourists have historically accountedWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times