As soaring local prices cool enthusiasm for travel to Japan, China is emerging as a new alternative destination. Visa-free entry to China, combined wi
www.asiae.co.kr
Japan's Too Expensive, I Can't Go"... Now Koreans Are Flocking to 'This Place'
by
Seo Jiyeong
Updated 08 Oct.2026 12:21(KST)
LCCs Launch New Routes as South Korea-China Air Traffic Rights Expand
As soaring local prices cool enthusiasm for travel to Japan, China is emerging as a new alternative destination. Visa-free entry to China, combined with expanded air traffic rights between South Korea and China, has opened up more flights. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) are also entering Chinese routes one after another, helping drive up travel demand. Demand, once concentrated in Shanghai and Zhangjiajie, is spreading to smaller cities such as Guizhou and Shiyan, making China a new growth driver for South Korea's outbound travel market.
The group FIFTY FIFTY taking part in a Wanghong experience. Screenshot from Instagram.
Visa-Free Travel Fuels 118% Surge in Fourth-Quarter Bookings
According to the travel industry on October 7, bookings for trips to China in the fourth quarter of this year are rising sharply. Kyowon Tour's Travel이지 recorded a 118% year-on-year increase in bookings for China packages departing in the fourth quarter of this year. China's share of all overseas travel bookings also rose by 11.9 percentage points, from 11.4% last year to 23.3% this year. In other words, the share of bookings for trips to China more than doubled in a year. Modetour likewise reported that China accounted for 31.6% of all bookings for overseas destinations departing in October and November, the highest share for any single country or region.
The recovery in demand has been driven by visa-free measures introduced last year and continued since then. In November 2024, China introduced temporary visa-free entry for South Korean nationals, and South Korea also allowed temporary visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists.
More flights have also significantly improved access to China. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation information portal, approximately 13.614 million passengers traveled on China routes from January to August this year, up 23% from approximately 11.061 million in the same period last year.
Traffic Rights Expanded for the First Time in 7 Years... LCC Entry Raises Hopes for Lower Fares
Expanded air service is another key factor driving demand for travel to China. At an aviation meeting in May, South Korea and China agreed to increase passenger traffic rights from 608 flights per week to 664. This was the first expansion of traffic rights since 2019.
On September 16, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport additionally allocated traffic rights for 25 routes, primarily to China, to 10 South Korean airlines. As a result, weekly flights will increase from 38 to 52 on the Incheon-Beijing route, from 56 to 63 on the Incheon-Shanghai route, and from 21 to 28? on each of the Incheon-Guangzhou and Incheon-Dalian routes.
The tourist hall of the Shanghai World Financial Center in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China. Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism
LCCs are also stepping up their entry into the market. Jeju Air and Eastar Jet will newly enter the Incheon-Beijing route, Jin Air the Incheon-Guangzhou route, and Trinity Airways the Incheon-Dalian route. With LCCs joining key China routes that have until now been dominated by major airlines, airfares and the range of options are expected to change.
New routes will continue to launch in the second half of the year. Jeju Air opened its Busan-Guilin route, with four flights per week, on September 23, and Jin Air launched service on the Incheon-Yichang route. Eastar Jet will launch the Incheon-Xiamen route, with four flights per week, on October 28?, followed by the Busan-Hangzhou route in December. Parata Air will launch the Incheon-Shenzhen route, with four flights per week, on November 9, and is also scheduled to operate the Yangyang-Shanghai route, with two flights per week, in December.
Beyond Zhangjiajie, Exclusive Packages to Smaller Cities... Accelerating Influx of Travelers in Their 30s and 40s
With more flights available, travel companies are also changing their package offerings. Demand for trips to China, once concentrated on Zhangjiajie, the Taihang Mountains, Mount Baekdu, and Shanghai, is spreading to new areas served by newly launched routes.
Hana Tour has introduced an exclusive package to Guizhou Province, which now has a direct flight route. Guizhou is home to tourist attractions rated 5A, the highest grade officially recognized by the Chinese government, but limited access has meant that the province was often included in packages linked to nearby areas. The launch of direct flights has made it possible to offer a standalone five-day itinerary in Guizhou.
Modetour has also launched a five-day "Shiyan and Wudang Mountain" package to coincide with China Southern Airlines' launch of direct flights to Shiyan. The package will run for one month, from ?October 19 to November 18.
Rungchingsya Peonggwandao, located northwest of Goseongchon in Yeonching-gu. Beijing Tourism Network.
Travel industry players are taking note of how expanded air routes can generate new demand. Analysts say that as more options become available, travelers in their 30s and 40s, whose trips have until now been concentrated in Shanghai, may also visit other cities in China.
Another Advantage: "Outstanding Value" at Around KRW 1.05 Million
Competitive prices are also seen as a factor driving demand for trips to China. According to Consumer Insight, South Korean travelers spent an average of KRW 1,054,000 on overseas trips to China this year. That was more than KRW 200,000 less than the average of KRW 1,274,000 for Southeast Asia, and also below the figures for Japan, at KRW 1,068,000, and Vietnam, at KRW 1,117,000?.
China's vast territory, diverse cultural heritage, and natural scenery offer considerable scope for developing region-specific themed and extended-stay packages. The expansion of air routes is also creating a foundation for extending demand beyond established tourist destinations to new areas.
After a sluggish third quarter, travel companies expect demand for overseas travel, including trips to China, to recover in the fourth quarter. A key question is whether bookings will continue through November and December, as more travelers tack annual leave onto October's run of public holidays to take trips.
"A virtuous cycle in which air service creates demand has begun to take hold in China's market," an industry official said. "With expanded routes, visa-free benefits, and competitive costs coming together, China is likely to establish itself as a major growth driver in South Korea's outbound travel market."
responsiblestatecraft.org
en.nia.gov.cn
.
