Japan and South Korea are set to ease visa policies for Chinese tourists, with the changes expected to take effect in the coming months.
On December 25th, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced in Beijing that Japan will relax its visa conditions for Chinese citizens. In addition to introducing a 10-year tourist visa, the stay duration for group tourist visas will be extended to 30 days.
The new measures are expected to take effect in the spring of 2025.
Meanwhile, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated on Thursday that the country is considering a visa-free pilot project for Chinese tourist groups.
According to South Korea’s newly released tourism revitalization plan, the government has set a target of attracting 18.5 million tourists in 2025, with a goal of generating KRW30 trillion ($22.8 billion) in tourism sales and KRW40 trillion ($30.4 billion) in domestic travel consumption. To achieve this, the South Korean government plans to allocate 70 percent of its tourism budget in the first half of the year, focusing on stabilizing the inbound tourism market.
These measures are expected to significantly boost the tourism sector, as Chinese tourists have long been a major contributor to the market.
Currently, South Korea’s casinos are primarily for foreigners, with Chinese gamblers being the main patrons. Additionally, the first casino in Japan, MGM Osaka, is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2030.
