South Korea has expanded its list of nationalities that can visit the Asian country without having to apply for the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA), which decision has entered into force this week.
According to a press release by the official K-ETA portal, another 22 countries have been added to the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization system, which will remain in force until December 31, 2024, and follows the celebration of ‘Visit Korea Year (2023~2024), VisaGuide.World reports.
“Starting from April 1, 2023, South Korea will temporarily extend travel exemptions for citizens of 22 regions under the K-ETA system. This expansion will last until December 31, 2024,” the press release reads.
These countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, Poland, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Macao, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Austria and Australia.
K-ETA system enables foreign nationals to enter South Korea without having to apply for an authorization, which also means without a South Korean visa and makes traveling to the Asian country more convenient. Nationals of these countries can still apply for K-ETA, while those that already have the authorization are exempted from the requirement to submit an arrival card at the destination.
Previously, South Korea lifted K-ETA authorization requirements for nationals of eight countries; Japan, Kiribati, Micronesia, Macao, Samoa, Tango, Taiwan and the Solomon Islands, enabling nationals of these countries to enter South Korea without a visa for several activities.
South Korea is one of the top destinations for foreign tourists, especially among Asians. According to Skift, 53 percent of all digital bookings recorded in 2021 were directed to South Korea, which also represented 61 percent of all online bookings made in this region for this period.
“While severe travel restrictions and the lack of Chinese visitors have been challenging for the region, the downturn is not expected to last. Looking forward, there is optimism regarding the return of Chinese visitors, and renewed air connectivity across Asia Pacific markets will help fuel inbound traffic from other markets as well,” a recent report from Phocuswright explains.
Revenues generated from tourism are also expected to surge in 2023, surpassing the pre-pandemic levels, while online bookings will continue to rise – doubling up 2019 levels in the upcoming two years. Bookings are expected to reach a value of $11.2 billion.
The Asian country is determined to strengthen the service of its digital platforms in an effort to attract 30 million international tourists by 2027. Korea’s Tourism Organization (KTO) plans to improve digital tourism platforms, services, and programs in cities like Gyeongju, Busan, Chuncheon, and Jeju City.
The number of visitors to South Korea in pre-pandemic levels was 14 percent higher than in the previous year, showing that the country was experiencing a peak in its tourist arrivals before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Tourism contributes consist of 4.16 percent of the country’s GDP, with the total spending by visitors being $21.5 billion.
>> Visa Free Countries for South Korean Passport Holders
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