As Seoul’s autumnal foliage dances across ancient palaces, and harvest moons illuminate Beijing’s alleyways, a passport stamp’s absence is revolutionizing travel between China and South Korea. Experts see these reciprocal visa relaxations as prime examples of mutually beneficial cooperation, stimulating a surge in tourism that invigorates businesses and significantly boosts both economies.
With Chinese visitors filling Busan’s beaches and Koreans exploring Shanghai’s impressive skyline, these swiftly implemented policies demonstrate how visa-free policy can cultivate cultural understanding and financial prosperity.
The policy’s potential became vividly apparent during China’s early October Golden Week holiday, as South Korea’s bustling urban areas echoed with Mandarin conversations. Key tourism destinations, from Myeongdong’s brightly lit shopping districts to Jeju Island’s geological wonders, thrived due to the increase in Chinese tour groups, directly benefiting from Seoul’s newly introduced temporary visa waiver. Specifically, groups of three or more Chinese tourists can now enter South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days, a policy running from September 29, 2025, to June 30, 2026—building on Jeju’s pre-existing 30-day visa-free entry for individual travelers.
“Thanks to the visa-free policy, South Korea-bound group travel from the National Day holiday has increased by over 60 percent compared to September at our platform,” remarked Liu Haomiao from Tuniu, emphasizing a substantial improvement over the more subdued 2024 figures.
Policies That Pay Dividends Both Ways
This initiative by South Korea mirrored a similar move by China in November 2024, which allowed South Korean citizens to visit mainland China visa-free for a maximum of 15 days until December 31, 2025, covering travel for tourism, business, familial visits, and stopovers. The balanced approach has led to increased travel: Trip.com Group reported a significant 131 percent increase in Korean bookings to China from November 2024 to mid-September 2025 compared to the previous year. The timing proved beneficial, as South Korea’s Chuseok festival coincided with China’s Mid-Autumn celebration, encouraging Koreans to explore popular Chinese destinations like Beijing’s Forbidden City, Shanghai’s Bund, Hong Kong’s iconic harbor, and Dalian’s scenic coastline.
Seoul has ambitious goals, targeting 5.36 million Chinese tourists in 2025, nearing the pre-pandemic peak of 6.02 million reached in 2019. The Bank of Korea estimates that each additional million Chinese tourists could boost GDP growth by 0.08 percentage points, a notable gain for a country where tourism contributes over 5 percent to the national economy. Meanwhile, China’s growing outbound tourism is supporting its economic recovery, with airline routes like Seoul-Shanghai operating at 86 percent of their 2019 capacity, and hotel occupancy rates increasing thanks to family travel packages and tourism related to Korean pop culture.
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Strengthening Cultural Connections and Economic Growth
The increase in tourism extends beyond mere statistics, fostering stronger cultural exchanges. Young Chinese enthusiasts are drawn to Gangnam to experience Korean dramas firsthand, while older Koreans enjoy sampling dim sum in Guangdong’s traditional tea houses. “This is more than just flights and documents; it’s about creating lasting connections between people,” noted a South Korean tourism representative, highlighting experiences such as wellness retreats on Jeju Island and hiking the Great Wall. Retail and hospitality sectors are seeing immediate advantages, with Incheon’s duty-free shops reporting substantial increases in Chinese consumer spending, and airlines and railway companies are working to meet the growing demand.
Economically, the effects of visa-free policy are mutually reinforcing. For South Korea, dealing with slower domestic spending, the influx of tourists partially offsets declines in Japanese tourism. At the same time, China is seeing this increased travel as a valuable means of allowing its citizens to travel internationally, a key driver of economic recovery amid a more complex economic landscape. Analysts suggest this positive trajectory will persist into 2026, and that policies may be extended to solidify East Asia’s revival of regional tourism. The visa-free policy between China and South Korea, poised to boost tourism and promote broader economic collaboration, has been met with positivity, as highlighted by the Global Times, which emphasizes its potential impact on trade relations and supply chain integration.
Sustainable Sparks for Shared Skies
Looking ahead to 2025, this initiative promises to do more than just simplify travel; it’s a sign of strengthening regional bonds. Authorities are considering measures like multilingual mobile apps and sustainable tourism plans to support the growth while carefully managing potential overcrowding at popular destinations. The surge in flight inquiries for Seoul and Jeju suggests a promising future, indicating increased tourism, cultural exchange, and tighter economic collaboration.
In an environment where barriers are increasingly common, this easing of travel restrictions offers a reminder of the benefits of open borders. From beaches to beverages, the possibilities are immense, and the future is bright.