South Korea visa exemption for Chinese tour groups to start in September
The temporary measure could boost visitation to foreign-only casinos.
South Korea.- Temporary visa-free entry policy for Chinese tour groups will run from September 29 to June of next year. It’s hoped that the implementation ahead of China’s National Day holiday in early October and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit at the end of October will boost inbound tourism.
The gaming industry could be a primary beneficiary. Except for one establishment, all casinos in South Korea are foreign-only, making them heavily reliant on international visitors. The expected influx of Chinese tour groups, known for high-spending, could be a major boost.
Announced by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, the policy is a reciprocal response to China’s prior visa-free entry for South Korean citizens. With international visitors already reaching 93.5 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, the government anticipates that the initiative will stimulate more demand.
