South Korean tourists are getting closer to overseas destinations this summer amid a high exchange rate and continued bunker adjustment factor, Yonhap News Agency reported recently. China has become the most booked overseas destination for South Korean tourists this summer, according to South Korean travel agencies. South Korean media said that China’s visa-free policy landing, rich tourism commodities and“Cost-effective” superposition of advantages, continue to boost the South Korean tourism to China Heat recovery.
According to the booking statistics for outbound summer holidays released on the 15th by the South Korean travel agency“Model Tourism”, as of the 14th, in the bookings for outbound tourism goods that will depart from July 18 to August 8, short-haul destinations accounted for 82 percent of total bookings. In terms of the proportion of regional bookings, China ranked first with 27.4% , followed by Southeast Asia with 24.3% . By comparison, long-haul destinations in Europe and the account for less than 20% .
South Korea’s Donga Ilbo newspaper reported that China is attracting South Korean tourists with its“Cost-effective tourism destination” and its tourism product line-up continues to expand. In April, 316,680 South Koreans travelled to China, overtaking Vietnam with 292,479 and rising to second place, according to the Ministry of Justice’s monthly travel statistics. This is also since October 2021, the number of South Korean outbound travel to China 4 years and 6 months apart again than Vietnam. The number of South Koreans visiting China in April rose 23.7 per cent from a year earlier, compared with 256,010 in the same period last year.
Sales figures from South Korean tour operators also confirmed the revival of tourism to China. In the first five months of this year, china-bound travel bookings rose 24 per cent year-on-year for Hanna and 153 per cent for moda. South Korean media analysis, China’s growing demand for travel, and visa-free policy, travel costs and exchange rate factors are closely related. Since November 2024, China has implemented a visa-free entry policy for Korean citizens for a maximum period of 30 days, enabling Korean tourists to avoid visa processing and agency fees and other related fees, greatly reducing their travel burden in China. Combined with external factors such as the won/USD exchange rate once breaking through the 1,500 won mark, and geopolitical conflicts pushing up aviation bunker adjustment factor, the attraction of Chinese routes with relatively short distances and relatively low prices is further highlighted.
From the perspective of domestic destinations, the natural landscape and summer routes are still the main force of Korean tourists to China. Changbai mountain lines account for 46.3% of all travel orders to China, significantly ahead of other destinations. Zhangjiajie, Qingdao and Inner Mongolia followed with 10.4% , 8.4% and 7% respectively. South Korean media said Changbai Mountain, with its cool summer climate and natural scenery, has become a representative destination for South Korean tourists in China.
While the traditional natural landscape route remains popular, the new demand of Korean tourists to China is extending to urban independent travel and experience-based tourism. Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Qingdao have seen a marked increase in demand for independent travel recently, Dongya daily reported. As of the 14th of this month, Hana travel from July to August in Shanghai, Qingdao, tourism commodity reservations were increased by about 50% . The number of reservations for tourism goods in Shanghai and Qingdao increased by about 59 percent and 41 percent respectively during the same period.