今起试行！中国团体游客赴韩免签，“黄金周”说走就走？

Group 1 - The South Korean government has implemented a visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists starting from September 29, allowing groups of three or more to stay for 15 days, with Jeju Island maintaining a 30-day visa-free stay for both individual and group tourists [1][4] - This policy is seen as a response to improve Sino-Korean relations and is expected to boost the tourism market significantly, with an estimated additional 1 million tourists anticipated [1][5] - The airline industry in South Korea has been actively increasing capacity on routes to China, with a reported 24.3% year-on-year increase in passenger transport volume on Korea-China routes in the first half of the year [5][6] Group 2 - The South Korean duty-free industry is looking to recover from previous downturns, with Chinese tourists being a key customer segment, having previously outspent other nationalities in duty-free shopping [5][6] - The average spending per Chinese tourist in South Korea was reported at $1,689 in 2019, indicating a high potential for economic impact with each additional 1 million Chinese tourists contributing an estimated 0.08 percentage points to South Korea's GDP growth [6][7] - The shift in travel patterns shows a move from large group tours to smaller, more flexible travel arrangements, reflecting changing preferences among Chinese tourists [7][8] Group 3 - The recent visa policy changes are expected to enhance bilateral cooperation and cultural exchanges between South Korea and China, especially with the upcoming APEC meeting in October [2][4] - There are ongoing concerns regarding anti-Chinese sentiments in South Korea, but the government is taking measures to ensure the safety and comfort of Chinese tourists [8][9] - The popularity of travel to China among South Koreans has surged due to the visa-free policy for ordinary citizens, indicating a reciprocal interest in tourism between the two countries [9][10]