The direct flight shortens travel time between Guiyang and Seoul to just four hours. [Photo/ddcpc website]

Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport launched a direct flight route between Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, and Seoul on Sept 17. The route is operated by 9 Air, and it takes about four hours to reach Seoul Incheon International Airport, and the return trip is even shorter, only about three and a half hours.

This is also the 12th international and regional route opened by Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport this year.

To meet the high-frequency needs of tourism and economic and trade exchanges between the two places, the flight schedule is set for every Wednesday and Sunday. The outbound flight takes off at 14:55 from Guiyang and arrives in Seoul at 18:50; the return flight takes off at 20:25 from Seoul and arrives in Guiyang at 23:55.

The one-way fare is as low as 649 yuan ($91.31), excluding tax. Passengers can buy tickets through 9 Air's official website, app, or WeChat mini-program, as well as online travel agencies such as Ctrip, Tongcheng, Qunar, Fliggy, and Meiya.

In terms of ground services, Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport continues to upgrade the convenience of entry. The overseas visitor service center in the international arrival hall of Terminal 3 provides one-stop services such as currency exchange, SIM card application, transportation transfer, and multilingual consulting, as well as supporting equipment such as ATMs and function displays;

New Chinese-English bilingual broadcasts and signs have been added to the terminal, and stores have started supporting international payment via VISA, Mastercard, and more, making purchases easier for overseas tourists.

Next, travel agencies will rely on China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy and the "Guizhou Province Action Plan for Promoting the Development of Inbound Tourism (2024-2026)" to develop more diverse Guizhou-characteristic tourism products to attract more international tourists to Guizhou.