China's Business Travel to South Korea Surges as Visa Waiver Boosts Trips
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Business travel from mainland China to South Korea has risen sharply since last October, with Trip.com’s corporate platform reporting year‑on‑year increases in bookings: air tickets up ~78%, hotels up ~54%, and package bookings up ~67%. The growth is driven by visa fee waivers, preference for short routes, and a shift from Japan toward Korea amid softer Japan demand. Most trips are practical, not leisure—factory inspections, partner meetings, and project consultations—so companies increasingly book flights and hotels together for cost and management efficiency. Stable air supply (weekly China→Korea flights topped 1,000 in early January) and improving diplomatic ties have also helped. South Korea’s extended waiver of the group visa fee and use of the C-3-2 group tourist/business visa (단체관광비자) made business group visits easier, while Korea’s proximity and lower political risk compared with Japan encouraged substitution. Analysts expect the trend to continue if bilateral economic and diplomatic relations keep improving.
