Filipino tourists to South Korea expected to increase following relaxed visa rules

When the South Korean government relaxes its visa rules starting September 1, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) Manila Office expects more Filipino tourists to Korea.

Nam Dae Mun Market in Seoul (Photo by Jonathan Hicap)

Filipinos who have visited Korea at least once are now eligible for a one-year multiple-entry visa under the new rules.

Those who have visited Korea more than twice are eligible for a three-year multiple-entry visa.

And visitors who previously held a three-year multiple-entry visa can now obtain a five-year visa.

Rules have been relaxed for Chinese and other Southeast Asian nationals, too.

Sangyong Zhu, director of KTO Manila, is positive that easing visa rules will translate to more visitors to Korea.

"Korea is always ahead in visa processing compared by other countries. We are confident that visitor arrivals to Korea will surpass more than 12.5 million visitors again this year," he said.

From January to July 2013, Korea welcomed more than 6.3 million visitors.

This year, tourists from Philippines alone increased by 61.5% in March, 8.5% in April, 12.1% in May, 47% in June, and 74.4% in July compared to 2012.

Source: KTO Manila