How Will Busan Handle the Influx of Chinese Tourists? City Holds Readiness Meeting for Visa-Free Group Visitors

Presided Over by Deputy Mayor Lee Junseung, Busan Reviews Tourism Readiness
Busan Tourism Association, Gimhae Airport, and Chinese Travel Agencies Also Participate

How will Busan handle the influx of Chinese tourists arriving visa-free?

Busan City has begun reviewing its tourism readiness ahead of the implementation of visa-free entry for group tourists from China. On the afternoon of the 25th, the city held a "Tourism Readiness Review Meeting in Preparation for the Implementation of Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Group Tourists" at City Hall, presided over by the Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Busan Tourism Association, Gimhae Airport, and travel agencies specializing in Chinese tourists, among other tourism-related organizations.

The visa-free entry program for Chinese group tourists will be implemented temporarily from September 29, 2025, until June 30, 2026. The program applies to groups of three or more tourists recruited by designated travel agencies, allowing them to travel throughout South Korea for up to 15 days. Jeju Island will maintain its existing 30-day visa-free policy for Chinese tourists.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting Busan continues to rise. As of July this year, the cumulative total reached 315,000, a 36% increase compared to 231,000 during the same period last year. Through this meeting, the city focused on reviewing tailored measures to address the growing influx of tourists.

The Busan Tourism Association will strengthen the operation of information centers, facility inspections, and support for cruise tourists, while also monitoring major tourist attractions and inspecting signage. Gimhae Airport will conduct special facility inspections and enhance its Chinese-language guidance systems in line with the expansion of routes to China. The Immigration Office will secure additional Chinese-language interpreters and reinforce hospitality and security training. The Korea Tourism Organization plans to foster a welcoming atmosphere through joint campaigns for WeChat Pay and Alipay, as well as by providing mobile payment discount coupons.

The Busan Tourism Organization will establish new "Visit Busan Pass" exchange counters at Incheon and Gimpo Airports to improve access from the Seoul metropolitan area, conduct special safety inspections for city tours, and provide multilingual announcements. The Busan Port Authority will diversify the functions of the cruise terminal and enhance entry and exit convenience for large cruise ship passengers, strengthening collaboration with industry partners.

During the meeting, Chinese travel agencies, the Association of Tourist Interpreters, and duty-free shop operators also participated to discuss cooperation strategies in response to the anticipated surge in group tourists.

Busan has achieved remarkable results in tourism indicators this year. In July, the city surpassed 2 million foreign tourists in the shortest period on record, and tourism expenditures reached an all-time high of 555.8 billion won that month. Additionally, 21.98 million people visited Busan's beaches, which closed in September, marking the highest number of visitors since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee Junseung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, stated, "The rapid growth of the massive Chinese tourism market is revitalizing Busan's tourism industry. Taking this visa-free program as an opportunity, we will strive to reach 3 million foreign tourists as early as possible and help Busan make a leap forward as a global tourism city."

Lee Junseung, Deputy Mayor of Busan, is presiding over a meeting to review the tourism readiness in preparation for the implementation of visa-free entry for group tourists from China.