【Wen/Observer Net Wang Yong, Editor/Zhao Qiankun】

"It's really hard, I can't find any Chinese tourists." Recently, a reporter from Kansai Television tried to interview Chinese tourists on the street but couldn't find a single one. Outside a store where Chinese customers used to account for as much as 20%, there was not a single customer from China in the queue that day. Several shop owners in nearby scenic areas also confirmed that the number of Chinese tourists had significantly decreased. One shop owner admitted that the absence of Chinese tourists had caused his store's monthly turnover to drop by about 3 million yen (about RMB 140,000), saying, "We don't even know what to do tomorrow anymore."

At the same time when Japanese journalists couldn't find Chinese tourists, Chinese travelers were everywhere on the streets of South Korea.

According to a recent report by the Korean JoongAng Daily, the number of Chinese tourists in Seoul has noticeably increased in recent weeks, greatly boosting sales at several department stores in the city center. In areas like Myeongdong, many customers could be seen handing over their red Chinese passports to cashiers at clothing stores, cosmetics brand stores, and sunglasses counters, paying with Alipay or WeChat - the arrival of Chinese tourists has led to a rebound in revenue for the South Korean retail industry.

According to the November report of major South Korean duty-free companies, South Korea's retail sales have significantly increased compared to the same period last year, with a continued growth trend.

Seoul Street Tourists Observer Net

According to data released by the Korea Tourism Organization on November 28, approximately 472,000 Chinese tourists visited South Korea in October, an increase of 20.5% compared to the same period last year. Sinsang Duty Free reported that its sales income from Chinese tourists in October increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2024, and by 30% in November. Lotte Duty Free recently stated that its sales income from Chinese tourists in November increased by 50% year-on-year, growing faster than other tourist groups.

The report said that the South Korean tourism market is "undergoing a major adjustment," which is attributed to the arrival of Chinese tourists. In recent weeks, the number of Chinese tourists has surged, especially in Seoul, where passenger flow is steadily increasing. It is expected that during the New Year holiday, the number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea will increase three to four times. Data shows that the number of Chinese tourists planning to travel to South Korea between January 1 and 3, 2026, has increased by 2.8 times year-on-year.

According to a report by the international tourism media "Travel and Tourism World," Chinese tourists are driving rapid growth in the South Korean tourism industry, with hotel bookings and retail sales in Seoul continuously rising. Additionally, the number of flights and seat occupancy rates between South Korea and China have significantly increased, with airlines such as Korean Air expanding capacity to meet the growing demand for travel between the two countries.

According to information provided by Korean Air to Observer Net, the airline's "2025 Annual Report" showed that the passenger transport volume on the South Korea-China route of Korean Air had significantly increased compared to the previous year. It is expected that the total number of passengers transported this year will reach 16.49 million, with a total flight distance of 280 million kilometers. Korean Air is expanding its operations between China and South Korea to carry more passengers.

Currently, Shanghai remains the most favored Chinese travel destination for South Korean travelers on Korean Air's South Korea-China route. Since 2025, the number of South Koreans traveling to Shanghai has increased by 128,000 compared to last year, the number traveling to Beijing has increased by 71,000, and the number traveling to Qingdao has increased by 63,000.

According to information provided by Qingdao Airlines to Observer Net, as of November 7, Qingdao Airport received a total of 1.806 million China-South Korea passengers, an increase of 23.6% year-on-year. The number of inbound passengers to South Korea reached 360,000, with the route to Seoul ranking among the top in China's routes.

In addition, Qingdao Airport and Qingdao Airlines will officially launch a direct regular flight from Qingdao to Daegu, South Korea, on December 21. The estimated occupancy rate for the first flight's outbound journey is 60%, and for the return journey, it is 80%. This route's opening marks a full upgrade of the aerial bridge between the two places, providing more efficient and convenient travel options for passengers in Shandong and surrounding areas.

According to the flight schedule, the newly launched Qingdao-Daegu route will operate every Wednesday and Sunday, with a one-way flight time of about 2 hours. In the initial phase, the lowest tax-inclusive economy class fare for a one-way trip starts at 550 yuan.

This article is an exclusive piece by Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7584393903449653796/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.