South Korea Eases Group Travel As Regional Airports Open More New Routes Beyond Incheon

Written By: Abhirup Gan

Abhirup Gan

I'm Abhirup Gan, a Mass Communication graduate and digital marketing professional. Driven by a passion for storytelling, I create insightful, research-led content that explores tourism trends, destination stories, and hospitality developments with depth and clarity. Through my writing, I hope to inspire readers to discover not only where to travel, but the stories, cultures, and experiences that make every journey meaningful.

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August 24, 2026 12:37 PM

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Korea tourism is gradually reinventing the arrival scenario in a subtle way, and the discerning traveller may choose to be aware of this development before everyone else gets wise. Korea’s Ministry of Justice has extended its group tourist visa fee exemption policy up to the year 2026, while at the same time, Korea has been enhancing its international air connectivity by developing regional air hubs at cities such as Gimhae, Cheongju and Daegu.

South Korea Keeps Group Visa Relief In Place

Let us start with the paperwork, because nobody books a holiday dreaming about administrative forms.

South Korea has extended the visa issuance fee waiver for organised group tourists from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia until 31 December 2026. The standard fee of US$15, approximately KRW 22,500, is waived under the programme. The measure had originally been scheduled to end in June.

The extension is part of the government’s wider inbound tourism strategy and is intended to support foreign group tourism while strengthening tourism activity in regional economies.

For travellers from India and the other five eligible markets, the measure applies specifically to qualifying organised group tours rather than individual independent travel.

That distinction matters. Visitors planning a solo Seoul break should not assume the waiver automatically applies to their journey.

Regional Airports Get A Bigger Tourism Role

Now for the more interesting travel development.

South Korea is expanding the role of regional airports as international gateways. Gimhae International Airport serving Busan and Cheongju International Airport have gained new and resumed international routes, allowing travellers to reach regional destinations without first passing through Incheon or Gimpo.

During the summer 2026 operating period from 29 March to 24 October, international flights from regional airports are scheduled to operate 2,874 times per week across 98 routes and 13 regions.

Gimhae has added services to destinations including Miyakojima, Shizuoka, Takamatsu, Taichung, Phu Quoc and Almaty, while its Kuala Lumpur service has resumed.

Cheongju has also strengthened international connectivity with a new Shanghai service operating six times a week.

For visitors, the benefit is wonderfully simple: fewer unnecessary airport detours and more opportunities to build holidays around regional cities.

Busan Becomes A More Direct Tourism Gateway

Gimhae International Airport is increasingly important to South Korea’s regional tourism strategy.

Travellers arriving there can move directly into Busan and the wider southeast, rather than treating the city as a secondary stop after arriving through Incheon.

Busan offers a very different travel experience from Seoul, with Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Taejongdae and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple forming part of the city’s established visitor circuit. The airport also provides access to destinations across Gyeongsangbuk-do and surrounding regions.

The government has been developing tourism routes connected to regional airports, including transport and accommodation improvements around Gimhae.

That makes the airport more than an arrival point. It becomes the starting line for a regional itinerary.

Cheongju And Daegu Join The Tourism Push

Cheongju and Daegu are also gaining attention as inbound tourism gateways.

Foreign arrivals through Cheongju Airport reached around 50,000 during January–May 2026, representing a 114% increase from the same period in 2025. Daegu Airport recorded more than 46,000 foreign arrivals during the same period.

The Korea Tourism Organization has been developing regional travel products around these airports, including cross-regional routes linking attractions across several provinces.

For Cheongju arrivals, proposed itineraries can connect the city with Daejeon and destinations such as Boryeong. Daegu-based routes can connect visitors with places including Haeinsa Temple and Busan.

This is the sort of tourism planning that turns an airport into a proper travel gateway rather than simply a place where the luggage appears.

Foreign Arrivals At Regional Airports Are Surging

And here is the statistic that gives this strategy some serious context.

Between January and May 2026, 1.57 million foreign nationals entered South Korea through Gimhae, Jeju, Daegu, Cheongju and Yangyang airports. That was a 42% increase year on year and above the comparable 2019 figure of 1.11 million.

By comparison, metropolitan-area airports handled approximately 6.15 million foreign arrivals, an increase of 17%.

The numbers show why regional airports are becoming such an important part of South Korea’s inbound tourism planning.

The government has also announced plans to develop regional airport tourism zones, linking airports with nearby tourism cities and providing additional support from 2027. Gimhae, Daegu, Cheongju, Muan and Yangyang are included in the planned five-zone model.

Flight Rights Strengthen Regional Connectivity

South Korea is also allocating additional international traffic rights to support this shift.

In April, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport allocated traffic rights covering 35 international routes to 11 Korean airlines. Regional airports such as Busan and Cheongju were specifically included, with the objective of improving access for local residents and attracting international visitors to regional areas.

Separately, South Korea and China agreed in June to increase weekly passenger flight rights from 608 to 664, with additional connections expected to support regional airports including Busan and Cheongju.

India Gets A Direct Benefit From The Visa Policy

For Indian travellers, the group visa-fee waiver is particularly relevant.

India is one of the six markets covered by the extension, alongside China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia. The programme is designed for eligible organised group tourism and remains available until the end of December 2026.

India also appears in South Korea’s broader tourism strategy as the country works towards expanding international arrivals and diversifying the geographic distribution of visitors.

The regional airport push means future group itineraries can increasingly be built around Busan, Daegu or central Korean destinations instead of automatically beginning in Seoul.

Key Stats

• 6: Countries covered by the group visa-fee waiver.
• US$15: Standard group visa issuance fee being waived.
• 31 December 2026: Current end date for the fee exemption.
• 1.57 million: Foreign arrivals through five regional airports in January–May 2026.
• 42%: Year-on-year growth in those regional-airport arrivals.
• 98: International routes operated from regional airports during the summer 2026 schedule.
• 2,874: Weekly international flights scheduled from regional airports.
• 35: International routes allocated to Korean airlines in April 2026.

Timeline And Events

25 February 2026: South Korea announces measures to ease visa rules and expand regional airport entry for inbound tourism.

29 March–24 October 2026: Summer international flight schedule operates with expanded regional-airport connectivity.

1 July 2026: Ministry of Justice extends the group visa-fee waiver through 31 December 2026.

January–May 2026: Regional airports record 1.57 million foreign arrivals, up 42% year on year.

2027: South Korea plans to expand the regional airport tourism-zone model beyond its initial five airports.

FAQ

1. Which nationalities qualify for South Korea’s group visa-fee waiver?
Eligible organised group tourists from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Cambodia qualify under the current programme.

2. Which regional airports are gaining more international connectivity?
Gimhae, Cheongju and Daegu are among the regional airports receiving increased attention, alongside other provincial gateways.

3. Can travellers enter Korea directly through regional airports?
Yes. International services operate directly into regional gateways, allowing visitors to begin trips in destinations such as Busan, Cheongju and Daegu without first arriving at Incheon.

Conclusion

South Korea is redesigning its inbound tourism landscape by blending easy group tour access with increased regional flights. The extension of the visa waiver fee helps reduce costs for qualifying organised tour groups while increased and improved flight connections offer tourists more access options to get to the cities of Busan, Cheongju, Daegu and the areas surrounding them. With an increased number of foreign tourists flying into regional airports and the introduction of tourism zones, South Korea’s tourism infrastructure is no longer focused on one international hub.