Seoul (VNA) – Group tourists from threeSoutheast Asian countries, including Vietnam, can travel without a visa to theRepublic of Korea (RoK)’s Jeonllanam-do province (Jeonnam) through Muaninternational airport until March 2025, according to a statement released by theprovincial administration on February 27.

The statement said that the southern province has receivedpermission from the RoK’s Ministry of Justice to apply the extension.

The province is currently applying a 15-day visa-free entry policy for tourists in groups of 5 or more arriving at the Muan airport from the threecountries, namely Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, to Jeonnam, Gwangju,Jeonbuk and Jeju.

The policy is considered part of the local administration’s effortsto attract tourists from the three countries.

Since the policy was applied in March 2023, Jeonnam has continuously attractedregular charter flights from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia. Thelocality and surrounding areas have attracted about 4,000 foreign tourists.

Data released by BC Card in 2023 showed that the amount of card payments byVietnamese tourists to Jeonnam in the first half of the year increased morethan 300% from the same period in 2022, significantly contributing to revivingthe local economy.

Director of the Department of Sports and Tourism of Jeonnam JooSun-seon said that after the COVID-19 pandemic ended, the locality has beengradually expanding customised accommodation products for foreign tourists and stepping up marketing and advertising activities.

The province has also accelerated thecompletion of new facilities such as Wando Marine Healing Centre and MokpoOcean Hotel to provide new tourism products for foreign tourists, he added./.