• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

China-S. Korea May air travel soars, MERS gloom in June

Jun 25, 2015 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  


China-S. Korea May air travel soars, MERS gloom in June

Air passenger arrivals to South Korea from neighbouring China increased 28 percent year-on-year to 1.69 million in May, show official data from South Korea published on Wednesday.

Additionally, a weakening in Japan’s currency the yen is said to have contributed to a 22 percent on-year increase in air passengers on South Korea-Japan routes. There were 1 million such travellers in May, according to the data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Tourists from China and Japan are target customers for South Korea’s 16 foreigners-only casinos. There are more such venues on the way, including several planned for sites close to Incheon International Airport (pictured), which serves the capital Seoul, and one large new resort on the southern island of Jeju, involving an investment from Genting Singapore Plc.

Jeju, which already has a cluster of casino resorts, offers mainland Chinese passport holders visa-free access if they fly or sail there direct. Recently however there have been reports of a crackdown in China on the marketing of trips by mainland residents to South Korean casinos.

In contrast to the May air passenger growth rise, South Korea’s June air travel numbers have tumbled in the wake of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the country, reports the South Korean official news agency Yonhap, quoting official figures.

Morgan Stanley Research said in a note on June 16 in commentary on the outlook for the Asian casino sector: “MERS likely won’t help the market as Asian travellers become more cautious.”

The overall number of air travellers in the South Korea market plunged 19.5 percent year-on-year in the first three weeks of June, with the drop in international air passenger traffic hovering at about 20 percent since June 16, according to ministry data.

As of Wednesday morning, the total number of people in South Korea diagnosed with the respiratory disease came to 179 and the MERS-related death toll stood at 27, according South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Jeju still studying online gaming for its casinos: govt
    Jeju still studying online gaming for...

    Jun 24, 2022  

  • Claimed US$3.5mln scam on Chinese, Daegu Casino: reports
    Claimed US$3.5mln scam on Chinese,...

    Jun 22, 2022  

More news
  • Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still
    Maybe new Macau mass Covid test,...

    Jun 24, 2022  

  • Blackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover of Crown Resorts
    Blackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover...

    Jun 24, 2022  


Latest News

Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still

Maybe new Macau mass Covid test, community spread still

Jun 24, 2022  

It is likely that Macau will shortly have a third round of citywide centre-based Covid-19 testing in little more than a week, after the results so far of a second mass test – that was due to finish...
Read More
Blackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover of Crown Resorts

Blackstone clinches US$6.15bln takeover of Crown Resorts

Jun 24, 2022  

Jeju still studying online gaming for its casinos: govt

Jeju still studying online gaming for its casinos: govt

Jun 24, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$5.8 million

Amount that each Macau casino operator paid for the circa six-month extension of their respective contract



Most Popular

  • Okada Manila control dispute back in court: UniversalOkada Manila control dispute back in court: Universal June 22, 2022
  • Macau ops sign contract extension, eye fresh public tenderMacau ops sign contract extension, eye fresh public tender June 23, 2022
  • Macau gaming ops contract rollover signed today: CEMacau gaming ops contract rollover signed today: CE June 23, 2022
  • Macau shuts leisure sites amid Covid, casinos can still runMacau shuts leisure sites amid Covid, casinos can still run June 23, 2022
  • Claimed US$3.5mln scam on Chinese, Daegu Casino: reportsClaimed US$3.5mln scam on Chinese, Daegu Casino: reports June 22, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us