"I Thought They Only Went to Japan"... The Surprise Destination Chinese Tourists Are Flocking to Instead

South Korea tops international routes from China by flight frequency
Up 14.5% from 2019, surpassing pre-pandemic levels

South Korea is becoming an increasingly prominent destination for Chinese travelers. Last month, South Korea was the most popular destination among international and regional flights departing from mainland China, and the number of flights was 14.5% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. This contrasted with routes to Japan and the Philippines, where flight numbers remained below 70% of their levels during the same period in 2019. However, on Jeju Island, considered the biggest beneficiary of the “tailwind from China,” the total number of tourists actually fell despite a sharp increase in Chinese visitors, as domestic flights were reduced and fewer South Koreans traveled to the island.

Travelers pass in front of Jeju Airport. Yonhap News Agency

Flights to South Korea Surpass Pre-COVID Levels, in Contrast to Japan and the Philippines

According to China’s state-run Global Times on November 3, South Korea ranked first among destinations for international and regional flights departing from mainland China in October, based on data compiled by Chinese aviation information provider Hangban Guanjia.

In particular, the number of flights to South Korea in October reached 114.5% of the level recorded in the same period of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. In other words, flight numbers rose by 14.5% compared with the same period in 2019. By contrast, flights to Japan and the Philippines, which had previously attracted large numbers of Chinese travelers, remained below 70% of their levels during the same period in 2019.

As air links to South Korea expand significantly, major Chinese airports are also accelerating the resumption of routes. Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in China’s Shandong Province recently increased flights to Seoul and resumed direct flights to Jeju on October 27. As a result, Qingdao now has an air network linking it with major South Korean cities, including Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Cheongju, and Jeju.

Hopes for Improved South Korea-China Relations as Economic and Industrial Cooperation Expands

The Global Times cited the gradual improvement in South Korea-China relations and increased people-to-people exchanges between the two countries as factors behind the expansion of air routes. The analysis said that a significant increase in travel for tourism and business between the countries is translating into the tangible result of more flights.

The outlet also highlighted public sentiment and examples of industrial cooperation between the two countries. According to a poll commissioned by the Chinese Embassy in South Korea and conducted by Gallup Korea among 1,000 South Korean adults from October 1 to 7, 73.8% of respondents said they supported the development of South Korea-China relations. Support for cooperation in the economy and trade was particularly high, at 80.8%, reflecting expectations for practical cooperation between the two countries.

Concrete results are also emerging in industry. An LNG carrier ordered by Chinese shipping company China Merchants Energy Shipping and built by South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries held its naming ceremony in South Korea on October 28-29. The Global Times described the successful collaboration between a Chinese shipowner and a South Korean shipbuilder as a key sign that improving ties between the two countries are extending across industry.

1.17 Million Chinese Tourists Visit Jeju as International Flights Expand

The impact of expanding flights from China is most evident in Jeju’s tourism market. According to the Jeju Tourism Association, 1,175,173 Chinese tourists visited Jeju from January through August this year, up 4.4% from the same period last year. Chinese visitors accounted for 67.6% of the 1,738,108 foreign tourists who visited during that period, or roughly two out of every three foreign visitors. In August alone, 194,369 Chinese tourists visited Jeju.

Haikou Meilan International Airport in Hainan Province, China. Xinhua-Yonhap News

Direct international flights to Jeju are also increasing rapidly. This winter, international flights to and from Jeju are scheduled to operate 486 times a week, up by 137 flights, or 39.3%, from 349 a week last winter. The Qingdao-Jeju route has resumed service twice a week, while new routes have been added from Shijiazhuang, with two flights a week, and Yangzhou, with four. Flights on the Guangzhou route are also set to increase to seven a week: Spring Airlines has already raised its service from twice to four times a week, and China Southern Airlines is scheduled to resume three flights a week on December 17.

Overall Visitor Numbers to Jeju Fall Despite Fewer South Korean Tourists; Securing Domestic Flights a Challenge

Despite the sharp rise in Chinese tourists, Jeju’s tourism industry is facing growing concerns. Domestic flights are being reduced as international services expand significantly, deterring South Korean tourists from visiting the island. This winter, domestic flights to and from Jeju are scheduled to operate 2,948 times a week, down by 90 flights, or 3.0%, from 3,038 a week last winter. The reduction in domestic capacity amid an increase of 137 international flights is thought to have made the island less accessible to South Korean travelers.

Preliminary figures for visitors to Jeju in October also showed a decline. The island received 1,223,102 tourists last month, down by 113,157, or 8.5%, from the same month a year earlier. The number of foreign tourists rose by 20,437, or 9.6%, to 232,707, but the number of South Korean tourists fell by 133,594, or 11.9%, to 990,395. The decline in South Korean visitors was more than six times the increase in foreign visitors, leading to an overall drop in tourist numbers.

Tourism industry representatives say that, alongside attracting Chinese tourists, it is urgent to secure seats on domestic flights and create conditions that will encourage South Koreans to visit Jeju again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.