Chinese Travel Rebound Reshapes South Korea’s Foreign-Only Casino Market
South Korea’s foreigner-only casino market has recorded a sharp uptick in business heading into the Chinese New Year, driven largely by stronger arrivals from mainland China and flight disruptions that diverted tourists away from Japan.
Key Takeaways:
- Foreigner-only casino market sees significant growth ahead of Chinese New Year
- Chinese inbound travel increases due to visa waivers and flight reroutes
- Industry stocks and shares rise amid strong January performance
Per Asia Gaming Brief, analyst Park Sooyoung of Hanwha Investment & Securities said, “January results confirmed the positive impact of increasing inbound traffic, and in February we expect an additional boost from the Chinese New Year effect,” adding that increasing exposure to casino stocks, particularly Paradise, “appears valid.”
Paradise, Lotte Tour Development and Grand Korea Leisure posted double- and mid-single-digit year-on-year gains in January, while investor appetite has pushed shares higher.
Improving Access Boosts the Foreign-Only Casino Market
According to the Chinese Embassy in Korea, visa applications from China between November and January rose 34% year on year, and Seoul’s pilot visa-free program for Chinese tour groups runs through June 2026.
The surge follows Beijing advisories and a wave of flight cancellations between China and Japan that analysts link to redirected outbound travel.
The government’s visa waiver for Chinese group travelers, introduced in late 2025, and targeted marketing by operators such as Jeju properties have amplified the recovery.
Historical quarterly sales data indicate the sector has been rebounding through 2025, suggesting the near-term boost from holiday travel could extend into broader earnings improvement across foreigner-only casinos.
