Wuxi Border Inspection Station. [Photo/WeChat account: news-wuxixinwen]
Wuxi airport port in Jiangsu province has recorded 53,000 incoming foreign visitors since Dec 17, 2024, marking a 21.49 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Among these entries, 22 percent were for tourism purposes, reflecting a month-on-month growth of 12.7 percent, while 39.8 percent were for business activities, with a month-on-month increase of 41 percent.
On Dec 17 last year, China's National Immigration Administration relaxed and optimized the visa-free transit policy, extending the maximum stay duration for visa-free transit foreigners in China to 240 hours. Wuxi Shuofang Airport port is one of the new ports where this entry and exit policy applies.
According to statistics, since the implementation of the policy, 257 foreigners have benefited from the temporary visa-free transit policy at Shuofang airport, with those utilizing the 240-hour visa-free transit accounting for 49.4 percent of the total.
The policy has led to a significant number of foreign travelers entering China through Wuxi and made it much easier for foreigners to visit the Chinese city and surrounding cities.
Gong Weizhong from the Wuxi Border Inspection Station said, "Shuofang airport currently operates eight passenger routes to countries and regions including Osaka, Japan; Incheon, South Korea; and Nha Trang, Vietnam. There is an average of 18 international flights per day, with a passenger flow of 2,300 people."
By designating dedicated areas for visa-free transit procedures, setting up policy consultation service desks, deploying foreign language service personnel, and implementing various other measures, the airport ensures a safe and smooth customs clearance.
In the next phase, Wuxi plans to optimize its inbound tourism product offerings, launching more cultural experiences and eco-leisure-themed routes that meet international tourists' needs, thereby promoting inbound tourism to new heights with better services.
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