One Month Until Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Group Tourists... Rising Expectations for Incheon Port Ferries and Cruises

Inquiries from Chinese Cruise Lines about Calling at Incheon on the Rise

As the visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists is being implemented, expectations are rising within Incheon’s tourism industry.

Cruise ship docked at Incheon Port. Policy Briefing

According to Yonhap News on August 27, Incheon Port Authority (IPA) expects that the visa-free policy for Chinese group tourists will help revitalize Korea-China ferry services and boost the number of world cruises arriving from China.

Korea-China ferry services, which had suspended passenger transport due to COVID-19, resumed operations in August 2023. However, the number of passengers remains significantly lower compared to previous years. According to IPA, from January to July this year, the Korea-China ferries connecting seven cities, including Qingdao, Weihai, and Shidao, served approximately 227,000 passengers. This figure is about half of the 442,000 passengers recorded during the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Of the 29 world cruise ships operating at Incheon Port this year, only three had their previous port of call in a Chinese city. There has not been a single case this year where a Chinese cruise line operated a cruise that called at Incheon.

An IPA official stated, "Chinese cruise lines are making inquiries about calling at Incheon in line with the visa exemption measures. Passenger numbers on Korea-China ferries are also showing signs of recovery due to the recent increase in group tourists, so we expect the visa exemption policy to be effective."

IPA plans to continue marketing activities and organize welcome events for group tourists in order to further revitalize Korea-China ferry services and world cruises in line with the visa exemption policy.

Meanwhile, at the 'Tourism Revitalization Mini Policy Task Force' meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Minseok on the 6th, the government decided to allow visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists from September 29 this year until June 30 next year. Previously, China had allowed visa-free entry for Koreans since November last year, and in response, the Korean government set its policy direction after consultations among relevant ministries.