As Christmas lights twinkle across east China’s Shanghai, popular attractions like Xintiandi and the Bund are buzzing with an unmistakable presence—South Korean tourists.
From groups of young women posing in front of Cinderella’s castle at Shanghai Disneyland to families visiting the festive markets, South Koreans are taking advantage of the Chinese mainland’s visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from South Korea, effective on November 8.
Not only Shanghai, but other cities in China have also witnessed a remarkable increase in South Korean visitors. Data from Chinese online travel agency Ctrip reveals that Shanghai, Qingdao, and Beijing are experiencing a significant uptick in arrivals. The South Korean inbound tourist orders in Shanghai have surged by more than 180 percent year-on-year and more than 40 percent since November 8.
This wave of South Korean tourists is not an isolated phenomenon. China’s updated visa-free policies have brought an influx of international visitors across the country, reshaping global travel trends in recent years.
Between January and November 2024, China recorded 29.2 million foreign visits, an impressive 86.2 percent year-on-year increase. Of these, 17.4 million benefited from visa-free entry, marking a 123.3 percent rise, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
