Travelers
pass through customs at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing,
capital of China, July 18, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING -- Border inspection agencies
across China recorded 160 million entries and exits during the third
quarter of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.1
percent, according to the National Immigration Administration.
A
total of 8.186 million inbound trips were made by foreigners, up 48.8
percent from the same period last year. Of these trips, 4.885 million
were made visa-free, a year-on-year increase of 78.6 percent, data from
the administration showed.
In July, China issued new visa-free
entry and transit policies, granting 144-hour visa-free entry to
foreigners visiting the southern island province of Hainan via tour
groups registered in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
Additionally,
the country's 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to
three more entry ports in Central China's Henan province and Southwest
China's Yunnan province.
The number of foreigners entering China visa-free saw a surge in the third quarter as a result of the country's continuous efforts to invigorate cross-border travel, the National Immigration Administration said.
During the period, China saw more than 4.88 million visa-free entries by foreigners, a 78.6 percent year-on-year increase, Zhang Ning, a spokeswoman for the administration, said on Friday.
The total number of foreigners entering China during the same period increased 48.8 percent to more than 8.18 million, Zhang said at a news conference.
The country issued 807,000 visas for foreigners in the third quarter, which was 32.7 percent more than the same period last year.
The rapid increases are a direct result of the country's efforts to facilitate foreigners' travel this year, Zhang said.China sees 78.6 pct surge in visa-free int'l tourists in Q3
The administration introduced a series of measures in the third quarter to streamline visa policies for foreign travelers.
In a statement issued in late July, the administration said that tourists from countries that have diplomatic ties with China can enter Hainan province without a visa and stay there for up to 144 hours, if they arrive in a group which is organized by travel agencies registered in the Hong Kong or Macao special administrative regions.
The statement came about two weeks after the administration granted the 144-hour visa-free transit policy to another three ports in Henan and Yunnan provinces, expanding the number of China's ports of entry enjoying the policy to 37.
As a result of the expansion, citizens of 54 countries are now able to stay in Henan for up to six days visa-free if they transit in the province through Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport.
If they transit in Yunnan through Lijiang Sanyi International Airport and Mohan Railway Port, they can also enjoy a six-day visa-free stay in nine cities and prefectures of the Southwest China province.
All these measures, "working together in synergy, have brought about multifaceted benefits", Zhang said.
The administration will continue to improve the visa-free transit policy and other policies, and work with relevant departments to make foreigners' trips and their stays in China easier, Zhang said.
Source:Xinhua;Chinadaily;http://www.china.org.cn/china/2024-10/19/content_117495007.htm; https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/4254174-china-sees-78-6-pct-surge-in-visa-free-intl-tourists-in-q3;https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202410/18/WS6711f43ea310f1265a1c8560.html
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