South Korea removes travel restrictions for Indians

In a big boost to push numbers from India, South Korea has removed all travel restrictions for tourists and announced a slew of initiatives in the luxury market, business, leisure and learning experiences for the Indian market.

All Indian travellers can enjoy quarantine-free travel to the destination, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) India, the tourism arm of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, shared on Wednesday while announcing the reopening of South Korea to Indian travellers.


However, arriving passengers will have to take a mandatory PCR test within one day of arrival. To provide hassle-free access to Covid-19 screening, test centres have been expanded to more airports across Korea. Currently, there are three test centres at Incheon International Airport and one at Gimhae International Airport, the organisation shared.

“We are elated to welcome travellers from India to South Korea again. In the past two years, we adopted a progressive approach towards re-opening tourism. We are excited to share initiatives to facilitate travel for business, experience and learning. We have further elevated traveller experience with immersive experiential centres, re-imagined tourism offerings and look forward to hosting our Indian visitors,” said Young-Geul Choi, Director of Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) India while addressing a joint press briefing, along with representatives of VFS Global and key airlines – Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Hallyu or the Korean wave has played a big part in the rise of travel interest to South Korea among Indians and the destination has seen a considerable rise in the number of visitors from the country looking out for South Korea. KTO is developing special itineraries with trips to Hallyu-themed filming locations and experience centres for an up-close experience.

Recently, to make travel more accessible, KTO launched the Let’s Go Korea Savings Plan in association with Shinhan Bank in India. It is a Recurring Deposit scheme to help potential travellers to South Korea save up for their trip, with special interest rates and added benefits, Choi informed.

With a minimum deposit amount of INR 2,000 per month for a year, members can avail benefits with Utazzo Travel to book their trip to Korea. The investment will act as a regular recurring deposit in case a member is unable to travel to Korea after a year.

The organisation is also planning twin-city roadshows for luxury travellers in August with the participation of DMCs from Korea. The roadshows will offer a glimpse of the country's rich culture, unique venues and culinary offerings, it was shared.

Efficient visa service plays a big part in pushing tourism towards a destination. Representatives of VFS Global shared the simplification of the visa process in terms of application and documentation for South Korea. According to the information shared, you can now get your visa between 7-10 working days, if applying at the Delhi centre and 9-12 working days, if applying at Kolkata Centre. The VFS also offers an express service (at extra cost) that shortens the duration by at least 3 days.

In terms of connectivity, currently, there is only Korean Air and Asiana Airlines that offer direct connections to the country. Both, however, fly only two days in a week and that too only from Delhi. “Korean Air resumed its India operations in May 2022 and the load factor has been very positive, already more than 80 per cent for August. We plan to roll out special fares on the Delhi/Incheon route around Diwali. If things happen as we anticipate, we will soon have more flights on the India - South Korea route,” said Kim Chan, General Manager (India & Bangladesh) Korean Air.

Asiana Airlines is also reviewing the increased demand in Korea and plans to respond with increased frequency. “Business, employment, leisure and family travel segment remains our strong focus, but surprisingly a lot of players have evinced interest in Korea for their high-end MICE movement,” said Jung Sub Song, Regional Manager, Asiana Airlines. Currently, Asiana Airlines operates two flights in a week, every Monday and Friday connecting the two capital cities of Delhi and Seoul.

Education is another field that has evinced great interest from the Indian market. The growth of educational tourism remains the high point between the two countries. While there has been a considerable increase in the number of Indian students applying to Korean universities for higher education, KTO is also looking to tap the younger generation.

Since 2021, KTO has been working with School Principals across India through virtual sessions to provide students with opportunities for learning. With the travel reopening, it plans to conduct a physical event in Mumbai later this year to discuss experiential and learning experiences for students in South Korea.