Seoul: Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's leading air carrier, announced it has forged a strategic partnership with Ctrip, China's largest online tourism agency, to strengthen its presence in the country's travel market. Under the partnership, the two companies will jointly explore opportunities in China's outbound travel market and provide a range of tailored services for customers.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the partnership includes the operation of an official Korean Air store on Ctrip's platform, the development of exclusive travel packages featuring Korean Air flights, and targeted promotions for business travelers. Korean Air anticipates that this collaboration will help attract more travelers from the Greater China region and contribute to cultural exchanges between the countries.
Ctrip, a subsidiary of global travel service provider Trip.com Group, offers booking services for flights, hotels, and trains within mainland China and has more than 300 million users. The Korea Tourism Organization reported that Chinese travelers ranked first among all foreign visitors to South Korea last year, with arrivals from the country recorded at around 4.6 million.
In the first half of 2025, travelers from China rose 13.8 percent on-year to 2.52 million. The upcoming temporary visa waiver by the South Korean government for Chinese group tourists, set to begin late September, is expected to further boost travel demand from the country.