Koreans' travel to China heats up

Zhangjiajie, Hunan province [Photo provided to China Daily]

 

The number of Korean tourists heading for China significantly increased. In January, 142,000 South Koreans visited China, a surge of 908.7% year-on-year.

South Koreans are resuming their overseas travels. Statistics released by South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport showed that international air passengers in January this year reached 7.28 million, up 57% year-on-year.

"After the pandemic, I was eager to travel abroad. I chose China, which is historically connected to South Korea and is not too far away," said a South Korean tourist. Just like him, many Korean tourists are drawn to China because of the "closeness" in terms of geography and culture.

As travel to China booms, many South Korean travel agencies have launched specific travel products to China, and major airlines have increased flights between the two countries. Zhangjiajie city in central China's Hunan province has become a popular destination for Korean tourists, especially for those ages over 60.

Since last year, Zhangjiajie has implemented various innovative strategies to attract Korean tourists, such as hosting international promotional events and welcoming worldwide travel agencies for site inspections.

Meanwhile, China is actively expanding its "circle of friends" globally. To date, China has established visa-free agreements with over 150 countries, attracting more and more foreigners to travel, study, live, and work in China.

Source: People's Daily Online; trans-editing by Guo Yao