Politics disrupts South Korea’s tourism flow

What happened South Korea’s tourism and retail sectors are feeling the strain after the country’s controversial leader imposed martial law on December 3, only for the legislature to lift it the following day. Concerns have surfaced since Thursday’s political drama, with some major nations issuing travel advisories, sparking fears of a drop in international visitors. Meanwhile, nearly a week after declaring martial law in the nation, embattled South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has vowed to “fight to the end” and defy a second motion to impeach him that is scheduled for this weekend. The Jing Take South Korea’s inbound tourism may take a hit as the country deals with political turmoil following President Yoon’s martial law decree. Japanese tour groups, a significant part of South Korea’s inbound tourism market, have canceled trips, and some travel agencies have received safety-related inquiries. Over the past week, countries like the UK and Israel have advised against non-essential travel to Seoul due to “potential unrest.” The event casts doubt on South Korea’s goal of welcoming 20 million international tourists over 2024. Businesses catering to international visitors, including Chinese tour operators, are keeping a close watch on developments. A representative from a travel agency focused on Chinese tourists acknowledged growing concerns, but anticipated a clearer outlook in the weeks ahead. Travelers may feel hesitant about visiting South Korea in the aftermath of the crisis, but these concerns are likely to be short-lived, according to industry sources. “There will likely be some impact, but it should be temporary,” Steven Zhao, CEO of Guilin-based online travel platform China Highlights told the South China Morning Post last week. “This fear is just one phase.” In China, however, Korean tourism is on the rebound thanks to the nation’s latest visa-free policy for South Korean travelers in early November. Travel bookings have grown by 15% since October, according to Chinese travel platform Ctrip. The top destination for South Korean visitors was cited as Shanghai, with bookings rising by over 180% YoY. From November 8, South Korean nationals have been able to visit China visa-free for up to 15 days. The change, which took place under a trial that will run through the end of 2025, creates new possibilities for travel and potentially increased cultural exchangex between the two nations. Earlier this year, South Korea, Japan and China’s tourism ministers set a goal of achieving 40 million mutual visits between the three nations by 2030. The ambitious target focuses on restoring pre-pandemic tourism levels through increased collaboration and a greater number of direct flights between the regions. The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.

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Politics disrupts South Korea’s tourism flow