SOUTH KOREA. Local media are reporting that a Chinese ban on group tourism to South Korea may be eased or lifted altogether following the 9 May election of new Korean President Moon Jae-in.
As reported, the ban kicked in on 15 March, part of a sweeping backlash against Korean companies prompted by South Korea’s decision to deploy the US anti-missile system THAAD. The ban has had a devastating effect on Chinese arrivals to South Korea, which formerly accounted for almost half of total visitors and nearly 70% of duty free spending.
President Moon is adopting a softer stance on both THAAD and North Korea than his impeached predecessor Park Geun-hye. As The Washington Post put it: “Moon’s victory will end almost a decade of conservative rule in South Korea and the hard-line approach toward North Korea that had Seoul walking in lockstep with Washington.”
Local business media Pulse (Maeil Business Media) wrote today: “Travel agencies and airlines in China are cautiously forecasting that the ban on group tour sales for Korea imposed by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) on March 15 will soon be lifted.
“According to travel industry sources on Wednesday, some of the travel agencies in China already resumed a visa application service for Chinese wishing to visit Korea and online travel companies began to market free travel sales to the country. For example, Chinese online shopping website Taobao started to trade free travel products on April 25 for Seoul, Busan, Jeju and other Korean destinations.”
In modern astronomy, the New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are aligned, with the Sun and Earth on opposite sides of the Moon. While it’s too early to talk of a Chinese tourism recovery, the worst may be over as Korea’s own new Moon finds increasing alignment with a near neighbour whom it has been on opposite sides from for several bitter months.
