Toward a new visa vista in South Korea

Spending ranges from about 1,000 yuan ($160) to nearly 1 million yuan, the study says.

Chinese tourists will receive prepay cards, starting in the second half of this year, the ROK Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reports. They can deposit money on the card and use it to shop and take public transportation.

Both countries will initiate travel-promotion campaigns this year.

Bilateral tourism expansion will offer more options, including new airline routes.

There were more than 800 flights between the countries at the end of 2013, the China Tourism Academy reports.

Chinese tour guides and restaurants, and easy shopping channels targeting Chinese, have proliferated in stride.

The new visa policy suggests that pace will likely accelerate before it slows down.

Zheng Xin contributed to the story.