[THE INVESTOR] A group of Chinese tourists, often referred to as “youke,” will visit Jeju Island for the first time in eight months, according to a local news report on Nov. 20.

“A group of 25 tourists from Shanghai will be arriving on Jeju Island on Nov. 28,” tourism company New Huacheng CEO Woo Sung-duk was quoted as saying. 

Since Beijing banned large group tourists from visiting Korea in May, as a retaliatory action against Seoul’s decision to deploy the THAAD missile, group tours to the country dwindled. As a result, tourism related industries, such as duty-free and cosmetics sector, were hit hard as sales from heavy-spending Chinese visitors fell.

However, tensions have been easing since Seoul and Beijing held high-level talks last month and released a joint statement on Oct. 30 indicating normalization of relations.

Industry watchers expect that after the first visit of Shanghai group tourists, more will follow, as Chinese travel agencies are moving to resume the sale of Korea-bound tour packages.

“We are already preparing for several other group tours after the Shanghai team,” Woo added.

By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)