This special program is a trial run. It will continue until next June. Under the rules, groups of three or more tourists from mainland China can stay for up to 15 days. They won’t need to go through the usual visa application process. This makes travel much easier for them.
The timing of this decision is no accident. It comes right before China’s long National Day holiday, which runs from October 1 to 8. This holiday period happens to overlap with a long holiday in South Korea. Officials expect many more tourists to visit during this busy time.
Businesses are already getting ready for the influx of Chinese visitors. For example, Shilla Duty Free has set up special cruise tours just for these tourists. The popular food delivery app, Baedal Minjok, is adding new ways to pay. They are including Alipay and WeChat Pay, which are widely used in China. This will make things simpler for Chinese shoppers and diners.
The visa exemption idea was first announced in March. It follows a similar step taken by China last November. At that time, China offered South Korean citizens visa-free stays for up to 30 days. South Korea last offered such an exemption to Chinese mainlanders between December 2017 and March 2018. That was during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
President Lee Jae-myung’s new government hopes this measure will significantly improve relations with China. This is especially important as South Korea prepares to host an Asia-Pacific leaders’ summit in late October. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend this important meeting.
Source: Reuters