The South Korean government announced plans to expand its visa waiver program

The South Korean government has announced plans to expand its visa facilitation program in a bid to attract 20 million foreign visitors and generate $24.5 billion in tourism revenue next year. South Korean authorities plan to expand the list of tourist groups that can obtain an electronic entry permit. In addition, a new visa category for those interested in culture in South Korea and a visa for digital nomads will be introduced next year. The e-visa will be available for travelers from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, and the application period will be extended until next year. In September this year, the country had already decided to expand visa options to attract more tourists from China.

The K-culture visa is aimed at young foreigners who are interested in Korean content and want to get to know the country's entertainment industry. The digital nomad visa allows holders to stay in Korea for one to two years and allows them to keep their jobs in their home country. The South Korean government is also planning other measures to attract inbound tourism. It plans to introduce international mobile payment options in its stores so that travelers can use their own means of payment.

The country has seen a significant increase in the number of travelers, surpassing even pre-pandemic figures. The number of traveler arrivals and tourism revenues continue to grow. In 2019, South Korea welcomed 17.5 million tourists and generated 20.7 billion dollars in revenue.