South Korea extends visa fee-exemption scheme for Chinese group travelers

Up to the end of 2024, Chinese group travelers visiting South Korea will not need to pay a visa fee. Commencing in September, the current exemption scheme was scheduled to end at the end of the current fiscal year. It waives the regular $15 fee for Chinese group travelers.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the statement was delivered during the 8th national tourism policy conference in South Korea. South Korea’s casino industry, which consists mostly of foreign-only casinos with a single site permitted to serve local players, has historically relied heavily on Chinese tourists. The sector was greatly affected by the travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the extension for Chinese group travelers, the summit also revealed that group tourists from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam would be exempt from the equivalent pricing until the end of 2024.

South Korea attracted over 1.54 million Chinese tourists between January and October, according to data from the Korea Tourism Organization. The lifting of some travel restrictions, particularly those to South Korea, by the Chinese government contributed to an increase in travel.

The government’s decision to look into the possibility of loosening a ban on some forms of casino-related public promotion that has been in place since 2016 was also emphasized at the summit. The stance of South Korea against casino advertising may shift in the next year, as shown by this decision.

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Original story by: GGRAsia