Seongsan Ilchulbong, Jeju Island. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
JEJU, Sept. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s decision to expand visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists is expected to bring sweeping changes to Jeju’s tourism market, easing earlier concerns that the island could lose visitors to Seoul and other major destinations.
Starting September 29, Chinese nationals traveling in groups of three or more through accredited travel agencies will be permitted to stay in South Korea for up to 15 days without a visa. Jeju has long been the only region offering visa-free entry for Chinese visitors, a system that helped sustain its tourism sector even during downturns.
Industry analysts now expect the broader exemption to generate fresh demand, particularly from cities in China that no longer have direct flights to Jeju. Once served by 31 Chinese cities, Jeju is now connected to just 13, forcing travelers from places like Chongqing and Dalian to route through Incheon or Busan. The new system is expected to revive multi-destination itineraries linking Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.
A car is seen along the road in Bijarim Forest in Jeju (Yonhap)
Evidence of shifting patterns is already emerging. Travel agencies have begun packaging Seoul–Jeju combined tours, while China’s leading online platforms report surging demand for flights during the October Golden Week holiday, with searches for tickets to Seoul and Jeju more than doubling from a year earlier.
Jeju’s inbound operators are rushing to secure capacity. One local agency has locked in 1,200 seats per day across domestic and international routes, while the Grand Hyatt Jeju at the island’s Dream Tower resort is fully booked around October, with daily reservations reaching 1,560 rooms.
Industry officials say the visa-free expansion could particularly benefit younger Chinese travelers, who often struggled to obtain visas due to limited income or assets. The allowance for small groups to stay up to 15 days is also expected to drive growth in independent and semi-independent travel.
Far from diminishing Jeju’s appeal, the policy may weave the island more firmly into South Korea’s broader tourism ecosystem, positioning it as a central stop in a renewed wave of Chinese group travel.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
