New Trend in Golf Tourism: Guangzhou Becomes Favorite Destination for Korean Businessmen

Korean Golf Tourists heading to Guangzhou, China have surged significantly. This jump is driven by China's visa-free policy and the city's warm climate.

Quan Yulan has worked for 12 years at a travel agency in Guangzhou. She noted that compared to 2023, when international travel began recovering post-COVID-19, bookings from Korea soared over 300 percent in 2025. That figure is projected to be even stronger this year.

"Although Guangzhou is one of China's three major cities, Korean golfers were relatively scarce here before," she said, quoted by Korea Times. 

"But now I'm happy because I'm busy every day."

About 90 percent of golfers in Guangzhou are Chinese citizens, but Korean tourists are the largest group of Foreign Players. 

Most golf-focused travel agencies, including Quan's, employ ethnic Koreans who are Chinese citizens to serve the South Korean market.

Lee Hee-hyun, CEO of Seoul-based Blooming Golf Tour, said that for years, Korean golf tourists preferred countries like Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. However, the situation changed when China introduced a 30-day visa-free policy for Korean travelers in 2024.

The policy has had a significant impact. At Holiday Islands Golf Club, one of the most popular courses in Guangzhou for Korean tourists, the number of Korean visitors rose 81 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, Chinese visitor numbers grew only 4.4 percent.

Japan remains the top destination for Korean golfers. However, rising golf costs in Southeast Asia and security concerns in countries like Thailand and Cambodia have made China the second most popular destination.

Guangzhou accounts for over 80 percent of Blooming Golf Tour's China bookings.

"The recent surge in golf trips to Guangzhou from Korea is even making it hard for locals to get tee times," said Choi Woo-young, an international businessman based in Guangzhou.

As the capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, Guangzhou's location is a distinct advantage. 

Flights from Incheon to Guangzhou take just three and a half hours, with some Golf Courses only 30-40 minutes from the airport. 

This means Korean golfers can head straight to the course and maximize playing time. Many arrive, check in, and play golf that same evening. They stay for a few days, play two or three rounds, and then return home.

Quan and Lee noted that business travel also drives this trend. High-quality, business-friendly golf courses attract many Korean executives.

Bilateral relations gained significant momentum since November, when President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Korea in 11 years to attend the APEC summit. 

Xi's visit was followed by a reciprocal state visit by Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Beijing in early January, where both sides pledged to deepen cooperation.

"Guangzhou has many top-tier courses for business owners and executives, reflecting the city's long-standing economic strength," said Andrew Paik, CEO of Centum Golf, a travel platform connecting Korean tourists to premium overseas courses.

Market analysts predict Korean visits to Guangzhou will continue steady growth as China takes steps to strengthen its tourism industry to counter weak domestic demand.

"As entry into China becomes easier and visitor stays lengthen, premium recreation like golf will benefit more greatly as it attracts high-spending tourists and corporate groups," stated Subramania Bhatt, CEO of travel marketing and tech firm China Trading Desk.