CCTV News: With China's trial visa-free policy for South Korea and other countries, "coming to Shanghai for weekends" has become a new trend for young people in South Korea to travel and vacation. This wave of inbound tourism boom shows the characteristics of younger age and short weekend trips.
On the weekend, at the intersection of Wukang Building in Shanghai, young Koreans dressed in fashionable clothes were everywhere taking photos. This old street full of historical charm has become a "must-visit place" in the minds of Korean tourists with its unique architectural style and strong cultural atmosphere.
The former site of the Republic of Korea Provisional Government in Huangpu District, Shanghai is also a popular attraction favored by Korean tourists. According to the person in charge of the memorial hall of the former site, since the visa-free policy was implemented, the number of tourists from South Korea has increased significantly.
The inbound tourism boom not only drives scenic spots, but also brings Chinese food to life. At a grilled lamb skewer shop on Nanjing Road, Shanghai, a steady stream of Korean tourists come to check in. While enjoying the lively food while "radiating stickers" on the top of your head, such "Chinese barbecue" has quickly become popular on Korean social media. According to the clerk, since the end of last year, the store has launched a multilingual service model, and the Korean logos in the store can be seen everywhere.
Hu Zhenjiang, the manager of a restaurant in Shanghai, said: "After the visa-free policy was opened, the passenger flow of South Korea has increased, and now the proportion has reached an average of 70%-80% throughout the day, and the number of overseas tourists has increased by about 40% compared with the previous one."
According to Shanghai Customs statistics, the number of Korean passengers entering and leaving the country has increased significantly recently. In December 2024, the number of Korean passengers entering and leaving the port of Shanghai Pudong Airport exceeded 130,000, a month-on-month increase of more than 2%.
