SOUTH KOREA. Lotte Duty Free has welcomed the first Chinese tour groups arriving under the new temporary (until 30 June 2026) visa-free policy, which took effect today (29 September).
About 2,000 passengers were onboard the Dream Cruise from Tianjin, China, which docked at Incheon Port.
Of these, 1,700 visitors joined organised tours of Incheon and Seoul, taking in landmarks such as Namsan and Myeong-dong, with an itinerary that included shopping at Lotte Duty Free’s Myeong-dong flagship store.
The retailer expects more than 10,000 Chinese group tourists to arrive in October and visit its stores in Seoul, Busan and Jeju, further boosting duty-free shopping demand.
The visa-free policy means that Chinese group tourists no longer need to apply for a visa to South Korea five business days in advance of their trip. A streamlined entry application can instead be filed through designated travel agencies just 24 hours before departure.
Designed to ease travel for Chinese tourists, the initiative supports Lotte Duty Free’s strategy to attract groups from second- and third-tier cities, where visa processing has often been a challenge.
Ahead of key seasonal events, including China’s Golden Week, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, the retailer has stepped up its marketing efforts.
As reported, the company sent a delegation to Guangzhou and Qingdao early this month to capture the growing Chinese travel market by engaging with over 30 travel agencies.
To support the initiative, the company also organised over 200 tour guides fluent in Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian languages to introduce visitors to its flagship stores, brand partners and exclusive offers.
Aligning with the updated travel regulations, Lotte Duty Free is stepping up efforts to enhance its services and retail infrastructure for Chinese visitors.
At its Myeong-dong flagship store, the retailer is expanding product assortments of brands popular among Chinese customers, while promoting mobile payment options such as Alipay and WeChat Pay for more shopping convenience.
A Lotte Duty Free spokesperson said, “Lotte Duty Free will continue to provide world-class duty-free shopping infrastructure and differentiated services to ensure that more Chinese tourists enjoy a special and satisfying shopping experience with us.” ✈
