Recently, which destinations are emerging as cost-effective travel spots?

I said I would go to Japan with that money, but now I have to go to China.

The number of travelers going on overseas trips to China is increasing significantly. This is because the Chinese government implemented a 'visa-free policy' for Korean passport holders at the end of last year. With no need for visa issuance costs and procedures, and travel expenses being cheaper, China has emerged as a cost-effective travel destination. Chinese media reported that the number of Korean tourists has increased more than fourfold, highlighting the effects of the visa-free policy.

According to industry reports on the 7th, the number of Chinese package tour customers sent out by major domestic travel agencies last month increased by more than double compared to the same month last year. Hana Tour's number of Chinese outbound travelers in December of last year was 78,600, more than double the 35,400 in the same month of 2023, and Mode Tour's outbound travelers also nearly doubled to 9,913 from 5,631 in December 2023.

The effects of the visa-free policy are reflected in the numbers. The search volume for China among Korean travelers has noticeably increased. According to an analysis commissioned by Hankyung.com from the global travel app Skyscanner, the search volume in November and December of last year, when the Chinese government implemented the visa-free policy, increased by 130% and 77% respectively compared to the previous year.

A SkyScanner official stated, "China appears to be emerging as a popular travel destination among travelers recently because it is relatively less affected by exchange rate fluctuations, has shorter flight times, and incurs lower costs." They added, "Cities like Dalian and Qingdao in China have shown a significant increase in search volume over the past month."

The cost is also cheaper compared to Japan. When comparing flight prices to Shanghai, China, and Tokyo, Japan, which are popular destinations for Korean travelers, the round-trip fares are similar at around 400,000 won (based on major airlines), but there is a significant difference in accommodation costs. For 4-star hotels, many rooms in Shanghai cost less than 100,000 won per night, whereas in Japan, prices range from 100,000 to 200,000 won, more than twice as expensive.

Recently, a 30-something office worker named Mr. A, who traveled to Qingdao, said, "Even though it's a five-star hotel, I was able to stay for around 100,000 won. The visa issuance fee, which used to cost as much as the airfare, has disappeared, making it a cost-effective travel destination."

Local authorities also noted an increase in Korean tourists visiting the area. Chinese media continue to report on the rise of Korean travelers. China Central Television (CCTV) reported on the 5th that since China implemented a visa-free tourism policy for Korea, Shanghai has been bustling with Korean tourists. CCTV specifically introduced the trend among Koreans of taking short trips during weekends, called 'night goblin trips'.

In the previous three days, the Hong Kong daily South China Morning Post reported, citing travel platform Trip.com, that reservations from Korea to China increased by 425% compared to the same period last year. Trip.com hinted that "the visa-free policy has led to a noticeable increase in Korean travelers, mainly to destinations such as Harbin, Chengdu, and Shanghai."

China is expanding the list of countries subject to its visa-free pilot policy. Although the principle of reciprocity, where both countries apply the same standards, is generally followed, some European, Asian, and Oceania countries have been subjected to unilateral visa-free policies. In November of last year, South Korea also exempted entry visas. Our government is also considering applying visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists.

Industry insiders predict that China has emerged as an alternative for travelers seeking new destinations due to its minimal impact from exchange rate fluctuations and visa exemptions, and they expect the growth trend to continue for some time.

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It seems that travelers tired from their trip to Japan are now crossing over to China~

I hear that when visiting tourist spots in Vietnam and Thailand, there are so many of our Korean people.

Most of the time, people say that if you spend the money traveling within our country, you can have a great time abroad as well.

The cost of living in our country... really seems to be quite expensive.

Just comparing what we eat...