Both Japan and South Korea have recently announced modifications to their visa regulations to better accommodate the increasing influx of Chinese tourists.

On December 25 in Beijing, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s Foreign Minister, revealed that the country would ease its visa entry requirements for Chinese nationals. Changes will include the introduction of a ten-year multiple entry tourist visa and an extension to 30 days for travelers on a group tourist visa, set to take effect in spring this year.

South Korea’s New Visa-Free Policy

In a parallel announcement made on December 26, South Korea’s Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, stated that a trial of a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists would begin this year, a critical step considering their importance in supporting the local travel and tourism sectors. South Korea’s goal, as outlined in their tourism revitalization plan, is to attract 18.5 million foreign visitors by 2025, which is anticipated to generate $22.8 billion in tourism revenues and $30.4 billion in domestic travel expenditures. Notably, 70 percent of the tourism budget for 2025 has been allocated for initiatives planned for the first half of the year to stabilize the inbound tourism sector.