Regional Airports to Increase Domestic Routes... Plan to Add 4,500 Flights by Year-End

Korea Airports Corporation
Holds Emergency Meeting for Attracting 'Youkeo' Visitors

Korea Airports Corporation announced on the 16th that it held an emergency meeting to attract Chinese tourists (Yukeo) to seven regional international airports following the approval of Chinese tourists' visits to Korea.

By the first half of this year, 125,000 Chinese travelers entered through the seven regional airports, which was only 18.8% compared to 2019. The corporation set a feasible goal of operating 4,500 flights on China routes and generating demand for 720,000 Korea-China passengers by the end of the year. This approval is expected to lead to a full recovery in air travel demand around the Chinese National Holiday holiday starting on the 29th of next month and the winter flight season beginning October 29.

On the 16th, Chinese travelers are exiting the arrival hall at Gimpo International Airport.
[Photo by Korea Airports Corporation]

The corporation plans to promote increased airline operations and new route openings, reorganize duty-free shop MDs and implement discount promotions, install dedicated pickup zones for Chinese tourists within airports, expand working groups with major Chinese airport operators such as Beijing Capital Airport Group, and develop travel products.

In collaboration with local governments, they plan to attract charter flights linked to regional events such as the ‘Seogwipo K-POP Cultural Festival,’ expand tourism infrastructure by improving airport public transportation and guidance/interpretation services, and implement various demand activation measures including financial support for corporate incentive tourism and medical tourism.

Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, “As group tours from China to Korea resume after six years, we will closely cooperate with local governments and the tourism industry to ensure many Chinese tourists visit Korea using regional airports.”