Xiamen sees surge in cross-border passenger traffic

As of 7 pm on December 27th, 2025, ports of entry in Xiamen in Southeast China's Fujian Province have handled over 6 million inbound and outbound passenger visits, up nearly 20 percent year-on-year and setting a new record. Several other metrics have also reached unprecedented highs: for the first time, the number of foreign travelers entering and exiting Xiamen has exceeded 1 million and the number of air travel passenger visits has surpassed 4 million.

The implementation of various facilitative measure — such as unilateral visa exemptions, transit visa exemptions, cruise visa exemptions, and simplified transit procedures — has drawn growing global attention to Xiamen.

Data shows that in 2025, the number of foreign travelers entering and exiting Xiamen exceeded 1.1 million, an increase of over 13% year-on-year. Of these, nearly 380,000 travelers benefited from various visa exemption policies, reflecting a growth of nearly 35%. Travelers from Malaysia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea ranked among the top arrivals, with leisure and business visitors making up more than 70% of the total. As of December 27th, 2025, the policy of 24-hour direct transit without immigration procedures has benefited over 180,000 travelers from 142 countries and regions.
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, as the main carrier of Xiamen's passenger flow, has established a network covering 27 cities in 20 countries and regions across four continents. The airport has handled over 4.16 million inbound and outbound passenger trips in 2025, an increase of nearly 12% — the highest figure since it opened in 1983.
Visa facilitation has also opened new horizons for Xiamen's cruise market. In 2025, Xiamen's cruise terminal recorded 43 international vessel calls, surging by 95% year on year. Nearly 120,000 inbound and outbound cruise passenger trips were made, up by 40%.

Source: Xiamen Foreign Affairs