Enhanced promotion of Chinese tourism products amid visa waivers and expanded air routes
Korean travel agencies can now receive up to 3,000,000 Korean won in marketing support when promoting Chinese tourism products. The China Tourism Office in Seoul is implementing a “Joint Marketing Cooperation Project for Promoting Chinese Tourism Products in 2026” to respond to the increase in travel demand resulting from the allowance of visa-free entry for Koreans to China and the expansion of air routes between South Korea and China.
Responding to the surge in demand for individual and themed travel
The travel patterns of Koreans are undergoing significant changes. Moving away from traditional package tours, there is a growing trend towards individual travel and small-group, customized trips. This is driving increasing demand for differentiated tourism products that cater to specific regions and themes. Consequently, travel agencies are now required to develop products that utilize a wide range of content, including cultural experiences, natural attractions, culinary delights, relaxation opportunities, and festivals, not only in popular destinations like Beijing and Shanghai, but also throughout various regions of China.
Support details for travel agencies, up to 3,000,000 won
The program provides financial support of up to 3,000,000 won per cooperative project for expenses related to promoting Chinese tourism products, including online advertising, social media promotion, video content creation, and the production of printed promotional materials. This support aims to reduce the marketing burden on travel agencies and promote the actual sales of Chinese tourism products.
The eligibility for the application includes travel agencies legally registered in South Korea that are currently selling or planning to sell Chinese tourism products. The support project is a promotional campaign for Chinese tourism products, running until October 31st. Applications are accepted via email from August 14th to September 7th.
Visa-free policy extension and increased flight frequency
If you hold a Korean ordinary passport, you can stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa until midnight on December 31, 2026. This is double the previous 15-day limit, significantly lowering the barriers for tourists visiting China.
The aviation infrastructure has also been significantly expanded. On May 27-28, the two countries held an aviation conference in Seoul, where they agreed to expand traffic rights by adding 70 flights per week. With this agreement, the number of passenger flights between South Korea and China will increase from 608 to 664 flights per week. This is the first increase in the number of regular passenger flights on the South Korea-China route in 7 years.
The need for strategic responses within the travel industry
Travel agencies should not simply receive the subsidies; they must actively develop products that cater to the evolving travel trends of consumers. In addition to popular destinations like Beijing and Shanghai, a variety of tourism content, including culture, nature, cuisine, relaxation, and festivals from various regions of China, is expected to be introduced to the Korean market.
The China Tourism Office in Seoul anticipates that this initiative will enhance the diversity of Chinese tourism and provide Korean travelers with a wider range of options. It appears that the success of future Korea-China tourism exchange will depend on how effectively the travel industry capitalizes on the opportunities presented by the extension of the visa-free policy and the expansion of air routes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Which travel agencies are eligible to apply?
Travel agencies legally registered in the Republic of Korea that are currently selling or planning to sell Chinese tourism products are eligible to apply.
Q. How can I receive the subsidy?
Applications can be submitted via email from August 14th to September 7th. The final list of recipients and the amount of funding will be determined based on a comprehensive review of the promotional plan, promotional achievements, and supporting documents.
Q. Where can the subsidy be used?
These funds can be used for various marketing expenses necessary for promoting Chinese tourism products, including online advertising, social media promotion, video content production, and the creation of printed promotional materials.
Q. Can South Korean citizens visit China without a visa?
Until December 31, 2026, Korean citizens holding a regular passport can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa for purposes such as tourism and business trips.
Q. By how much have flights between South Korea and China increased?
At the aviation talks in May, the two countries agreed to increase the number of flights by 70 per week. This increases the total number of flights per week from 608 to 664, marking the first increase in flights in 7 years.
Q. What effects do you expect from this project?
This is expected to reduce the marketing burden on travel agencies, promote the actual sales of Chinese tourism products, and provide Korean travelers with a wider range of Chinese tourism options.
