Xiamen Port foreign travelers hit record high

As of December 3rd, Xiamen Port in Southeast China's Fujian Province has handled over 5.5 million inbound and outbound passenger trips this year. Notably, foreign nationals accounted for more than 1 million of these trips, surpassing that threshold for the first time with a year-on-year increase exceeding 13%. This sets a new annual record for foreign passenger volume since the port's opening.

Unlike the previous requirement to queue and fill out paper arrival cards, most foreign passengers now submit this information online before departure. Upon arrival, they can go directly to immigration counters for entry procedures. The clearance area is also equipped with AI-powered multilingual terminals providing real-time translation in over 30 languages, facilitating communication between foreign passengers and staff.

Fueled by China's growing appeal as a travel destination, foreign nationals entering Xiamen Port under visa-exemption policies have exceeded 330,000 this year, a surge of over 35% year-on-year. This group accounts for 60% of all inbound foreign passengers during the period, underscoring the significant role visa facilitation plays in attracting visitors. In terms of source markets, travelers from Malaysia, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and Australia top the list for Xiamen Port.

This policy, a standout measure in facilitating travel to China, has effectively encouraged foreign travelers to use stopovers for business, tourism, and cultural exchanges. Reflecting this trend, Xiamen Port has issued over three times as many 240-hour temporary entry permits this year compared to the same period last year.

Currently, China has maintained comprehensive mutual visa-exemption agreements with 29 countries and grants unilateral visa-free entry to nationals of 48 countries. Additionally, transit visa-exemption policies have been substantially relaxed and optimized.

Source:  Xiamen Foreign Affairs