South Korea is also not letting any grass grow under its feet as it continues to promote its tourism industry with the announcement that it is extending the waiver of the fees associated with a group visa for visitors from key Asian countries. The news comes after it was seen that foreign visitors to South Korea have significantly increased to numbers higher than before the pandemic. The current recovery observed in the tourism industry in South Korea has been a shining light in its overall economy following the pandemic.
Group Visa Fee Waiver Extended to Sustain Inbound Tourism Growth
South Korea’s Finance Minister, Koo Yun-cheol, confirmed that the visa processing fee exemption for short-term group visas (C-3-2) will remain in place until the end of June 2026. Originally set to expire in December 2025, this extension ensures that group travelers from the six countries will continue to benefit from the fee waiver, making South Korea an even more attractive destination for group tours.
The exemption covers the group visas for travelers from India, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Cambodia. The standard visa processing fee for these C-3-2 visas is 18,000 South Korean won (approximately $12.46), and the extended waiver is expected to encourage more travelers to visit South Korea, particularly from high-potential markets in Asia.
The visa fee exemption is a strategic move by South Korea to tap into the growing tourism demand from these regions, offering an additional incentive for tourists to consider South Korea as their travel destination. By reducing financial barriers to travel, South Korea hopes to increase its share of group tourism, which has been a significant contributor to the country’s tourism sector in recent years.
Surge in Foreign Arrivals: South Korea’s Tourism Recovery
The extension of the visa fee waiver is part of a broader push to capitalize on the recent surge in foreign arrivals. Official data reveals that South Korea’s tourism industry has bounced back strongly, with a sharp 17.3% increase in foreign arrivals in November 2025 compared to the previous year. About 1.6 million foreign visitors came to South Korea in November 2025, compared to 1.36 million in the same month in 2024. More impressively, the number of visitors was up by 9.6% from pre-pandemic levels in November 2019.
China remains the largest source of visitors to South Korea, contributing 378,000 arrivals in November 2025, accounting for approximately 23.6% of total inbound tourism. Japan follows closely with 363,000 visitors, marking a significant 40.4% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Taiwan, the United States, and the Philippines also recorded notable figures, with Taiwan contributing 158,000 visitors, the U.S. bringing in 133,000, and the Philippines contributing 60,000.
The rise in Japanese tourists is particularly notable, with arrivals from Japan jumping by over 40% from the previous year. This demonstrates a faster recovery from Japan, signaling strong interest in South Korea from one of its key neighboring markets.
2025: A Record Year for South Korea’s Tourism
The overall number of foreign visitors to South Korea in 2025 has already surpassed expectations, with 17.42 million tourists arriving by the end of November. This represents a 15.4% increase from the previous year and an 8.6% growth compared to 2019 levels. Chinese visitors make up a significant portion of these arrivals, accounting for nearly 30% of the total, with 5.09 million Chinese tourists visiting South Korea in 2025.
This strong recovery is a result of several factors, including the country’s successful management of the pandemic, effective marketing campaigns, and the extension of visa-related incentives like the fee waiver. The extended group visa fee exemption, coupled with the overall rise in tourism, underscores the country’s strategic efforts to boost its position as a top destination for Asian travelers, particularly in the growing tourism market of Southeast Asia.
Shifting Focus to Group and Sustainable Tourism
As South Korea’s tourism sector continues to recover, the focus is shifting toward more sustainable and diversified tourism models. The government and tourism bodies are looking to promote tourism experiences that extend beyond the traditional tourist hotspots of Seoul and Busan. By encouraging group tourism, South Korea aims to attract larger numbers of visitors, while also ensuring that the tourism experience is spread more evenly across the country, reducing the pressure on over-visited areas.
Southeast Asia, including markets like India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, has shown significant potential for growth, with travelers from these regions becoming more interested in cultural exchanges, heritage tourism, and group travel packages. By promoting tailored experiences and offering accessible travel options, South Korea hopes to further cement its position as a leading destination for tourists from Asia.
The Role of Group Tourism in South Korea’s Strategy
Group tourism has long been a staple of South Korea’s inbound tourism strategy, and the extension of the visa fee waiver reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening this market segment. The exemption helps make it easier for tour operators to organize large group tours, especially for families, schools, and corporate travelers. This, in turn, drives higher levels of visitation and spending, benefiting local economies and businesses outside of the major metropolitan areas.
As travel demand increases, South Korea is also exploring ways to expand its tourism infrastructure to accommodate group travel. This includes improving transportation networks, enhancing services at popular tourist sites, and investing in new accommodation options.
A Bright Future for South Korea’s Tourism Industry
The fact that South Korea has decided to continue the waiver on the cost of the group visa also makes it very clear that the country is set to take advantage of the renewed tourism trend. The fact that the country now gets to benefit from the rise of important tourism markets in the region and other incentives like the above also indicates that South Korea will continue to experience growth in tourism numbers in the future. Through the approach it is taking towards group tourism and pushing for sustainable tourism and travel principles and strategies being pursued by South Korea, it is very clear that the future for the destination looks bright indeed.
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