Chinese tourists are venturing beyond Seoul to Busan and Jeju, while South Korean travelers are adding Xiamen to a list of Chinese destinations long dominated by Zhangjiajie and Mount Paektu. China's holiday season and a temporary visa waiver have lifted inbound demand, while Chinese cities within easy reach are drawing attention from Korean travelers, broadening the travel map on both sides.
Chinese bookings at South Korean accommodations rose 6.5% from a year earlier, according to an analysis by global lodging platform AllMyTour of reservations for stays during China's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the travel industry said on the 20th. Chinese travelers accounted for 71.1% of all foreign bookings. The increase reflects the overlap of the temporary visa-free entry program for Chinese group tourists with the two holidays.
Growth was most pronounced outside Seoul. Chinese bookings in Busan surged 119.5% from the same period last year, while Jeju and Incheon rose 29.0% and 23.1%, respectively. Seoul, by contrast, edged up just 4.2%. The shift suggests demand is spreading to provincial areas as travelers look beyond shopping and sightseeing in the capital toward leisure, food and local culture.
Korean travel to China is also changing. Bookings for Xiamen from September through December this year climbed 42% from a year earlier, according to Mode Tour. Xiamen, a port city in southern Fujian province, is reachable by direct flight and suited to a four-day itinerary. The climate stays relatively mild after the fall. Visitors can combine Gulangyu Island, with its surviving European-style architecture, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Fujian tulou, hot springs and local cuisine in a single trip.
As destinations diversify on both sides, travel companies are expanding packages and lodging supply. Mode Tour has launched a Xiamen package bundling Gulangyu Island, the Nanjing (Nanjing County, Fujian) tulou cluster and hot springs, along with small-group departures for parties of four or more and itineraries departing from Busan. AllMyTour is securing more accommodations in Busan and other regions to meet rising provincial inbound demand.
"Demand for travel to China has recently diversified toward experiencing regional character — cities, culture, food and leisure — rather than only the established scenic areas," said Song Heon-taek, head of Mode Tour's China business division.
