China’s visa-free entry for Koreans to boost travel demand

As China announces a visa-free policy for nine countries, including South Korea, expectations in the local travel industry are growing for increased tourism to China. Staff at Mode Tour’s China Division in Seoul are at work. (Yonhap)

China’s recent decision to grant visa-free entry to South Koreans for the first time is expected to boost travel demand.

According to multiple sources from the aviation industry on Monday, China will offer visa-free access to citizens of nine countries, including Korea, from November 8.

Under the policy, which will be in effect until the end of next year, Koreans will be allowed to enter China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit for up to 15 days without a visa.

Until now, Koreans had to wait up to seven days for a visa interview before visiting China, with wait times and costs varying depending on the visa type. Even a single-entry tourist visa required an in-person visit to a visa center, making travel to China comparatively tricky and costly.

Industry analysts are optimistic that the new policy will drive a significant boost in Korean visitors to China after years of decline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recent data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport showed that 10.3 million passengers flew between Korea and China during the first nine months of this year, which is only 75.1 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

“With this visa exemption policy, outbound travel demand to China is expected to rebound significantly, potentially opening up a new market following Japan and Southeast Asia,” said an industry insider. “The policy is expected to stimulate demand for independent travel particularly among those in their 20s and 30s.”