China is expected to see an average of 2.05 million daily inbound and outbound passenger trips from the evening of December 31 through New Year's Day, January 1, 2025, according to a forecast by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Saturday.
This surge in travel is anticipated to lead to an 18.8 percent year-on-year increase, driven by ongoing policy relaxations such as visa-free transit, and visa-free entry and exit for foreigners, along with convenient measures for mainland residents traveling to the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs).
China's popular visa-free transit policy, which allows travelers from 54 other countries to stay in China for up to six days while transiting to a third destination, was extended to 10 days starting December. Visa-free stays for tourism, business, or family visits have been doubled to 30 days for citizens of 38 other countries.
Meanwhile, in December, the country implemented policies allowing residents of Shenzhen City, south China's Guangdong Province to obtain multiple-entry permits for neighboring Hong Kong, while enabling residents of Zhuhai City, also in Guangdong to visit neighboring Macao once per calendar week starting Jan. 1, 2025, with a maximum stay of seven days per trip.
Passenger traffic at major airports across China will witness a steady increase over the two days. Inbound and outbound trips at the Beijing Capital International Airport, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and the Chengdu Tianfu Airport are expected to see a daily average of 41,000, 94,000, 43,000 and 16,000, respectively.
Additionally, land ports near the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, such as Gongbei Port in Zhuhai and Luohu Port in Shenzhen, are projected to experience fast growth in passenger flow, according to the NIA. 。
China expects sharp surge in cross-border trips in 2025 New Year holiday
