Cruise ship voyages from China to Busan set to rise 21-fold in 2026: gov't

▲ The AIDAdiva cruise ship is seen at the Port of Busan, some 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Jan. 12, 2026, in this photo provided by the Busan Port Authority. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Busan-Chinese cruise ships

Cruise ship voyages from China to Busan set to rise 21-fold in 2026: gov't

BUSAN, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- The number of Chinese cruise ship operations from China to South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan is expected to surge 21-fold on-year in 2026, government data showed Monday, amid the country's temporary visa waiver scheme for Chinese tourists.

A total of 173 Chinese cruise ship voyages are scheduled for the country's largest seaport in Busan, some 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, this year, compared with just eight operations last year, according to the data from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The number of tourists expected to arrive on the ships is projected to top 800,000, the ministry said.

Seoul announced in September that it would waive visa requirements for group tourists from six countries, including China, for a nine-month period to lure more foreign visitors. Groups of three or more Chinese nationals may now enter South Korea without visas for stays of up to 15 days.

To meet the massive influx of Chinese tourists via Busan this year, the ministry held a meeting Monday with related institutions to devise countermeasures, including ways to expedite immigration and accommodate faster entries.

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