Hey travel buffs! 🌏✈️ From September 29, 2025, the Republic of Korea (ROK) is rolling out a 9-month visa-free treat for tour groups from the Chinese mainland. This comes as a friendly match to the Chinese mainland’s visa waiver introduced last November, and it’s set to supercharge Seoul’s tourism and economy.
Why the hype? Tourism fuels jobs and spending. Before COVID-19, visitors from the Chinese mainland topped the charts with over 8 million arrivals in 2016—nearly half of all foreign tourists! Even after the THAAD row (a US anti-ballistic missile defense system that sparked tensions), numbers stayed solid at 6 million in 2019. Post-pandemic, we saw a rebound: 2 million in 2023 and 4.6 million in 2024. Still, there’s room to hit those record highs again.
Talk about perfect timing: the visa waiver kicks in right before the National Day holiday and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chinese travel platform Qunar.com spotted a 70% jump in flight searches to Seoul within hours of the announcement. Hotels, airlines and shops are already prepping for a wave of K-pop fans, street-food hunters and powerhouse shoppers. 🍜🛍️
Here’s a fun fact: in 2019, the average visitor from the Chinese mainland splurged about $1,689—more than American or Japanese travelers. That spending spree keeps ROK’s duty-free stores buzzing and keeps local businesses smiling.
More than just passport stamps, this move is part of Seoul’s bigger play to diversify its economy and manage risks. So if you’re a travel blogger, K-pop stan or foodie friend planning your next adventure, get ready to explore Seoul’s neon-lit alleyways and ancient palaces—visa-free style! 🌟
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
