An increasing number of South Korean tourists fly to Qingdao, Shandong province for weekend getaways, thanks to its geographic proximity and favorable visa‑free transit policies. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
In mid-August, a South Korean man surnamed Kim, who works in Seoul, wrapped up a weekend trip to Qingdao, Shandong province, after attending the closing ceremony of the Qingdao International Beer Festival. He then boarded an evening flight back to South Korea.
For Kim and many of his fellow travelers, flying to Qingdao after work on Friday and returning on Sunday evening has become a routine two-day, two-night getaway. Weekend trips to the Shandong coastal city are increasingly popular among South Korean travelers.
Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport currently operates an average of 39 passenger flights to and from South Korea each day, with services running at a frequency comparable to public transportation, according to Qingdao International Airport Group.
Of these, 34 daily flights connect Qingdao with Seoul, with departures spread from 8 am to 10 pm, providing roughly hourly service throughout the day, the airport group said.
