South Korea to offer visa-free entry to Chinese tourists from late September
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South Korea’s decision to introduce the visa-free measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October will help boost the domestic economy.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL – South Korea will offer visa-free entry to tourist groups from China, for a temporary period from Sept 29 till the end of June 2026, to boost foreign tourism ahead of an Asia-Pacific summit, the government said on Aug 6.
The visa-free offer was first announced in March after China’s decision last November
It also comes amid expectations that ties between the two countries will improve under the new South Korean administration of liberal President Lee Jae-myung.
The decision to introduce the measure ahead of a Chinese holiday period in early October will help boost the domestic economy amid a recovery in foreign visits, the Tourism Ministry said, after a meeting to discuss measures to revitalise tourism ahead of the Asia-Pacific summit.
South Korea will host a summit of leaders from 21 economies for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum from Oct 31 to Nov 1 in the south-eastern city of Gyeongju, a gathering where Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump might hold separate talks.
Shares of South Korean department stores, casinos, hotels and beauty product makers rallied on hopes of a boost from Chinese demand.
Hyundai Department Store jumped 7.1 per cent, while Hotel Shilla rose 4.8 per cent and casino operator Paradise climbed 2.9 per cent. Hankook Cosmetics’ shares surged 9.9 per cent. REUTERS
