SEOUL: Starting Sept 29, Chinese travellers on organised group tours will be able to enter South Korea without a visa for up to 15 days, under a temporary visa-waiver programme that will run until June 30 next year.
The measure was jointly announced by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office for Government Policy Coordination on Sept 7.
The waiver applies to tour groups of at least three people arranged through approved travel agencies. Jeju Island, meanwhile, will continue its existing policy of granting visa-free entry to both individual and group visitors for up to 30 days.
However, tourists deemed “high risk” will still be required to obtain a visa.
The move comes ahead of China’s National Day holidays in October, a peak travel season. To cope with the expected surge in visitors, South Korean authorities will begin advance registration for group tours from Sept 22, a week before the official start of the programme.
Officials said the initiative will be accompanied by measures to raise tourism quality, including stricter regulations on travel agencies, a ban on cheap package tours with compulsory shopping stops, and the development of premium travel products.
“The temporary visa exemption for Chinese tourists is expected to boost not only domestic tourism but also local economies,” the government said in a statement.
