Catalyzed by China's visa-free policies, the airport serving Shenzhen City, a tech hub in south China's Guangdong Province, handled a staggering 5.5 million entry-exit trips in 2024, a record high in nearly five years, official data showed Monday.
The number of international travelers entering and exiting China through the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport surged 100.3 percent year on year in 2024, said the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection.
In the year, 556,000 inbound trips were made by foreigners, up 114.8 percent year on year, with 225,000 visa-free entries, which soared 538.4 percent.
The airport's passenger throughput reached 20,400 people on Dec. 22, setting a new single-day record high since the full resumption of border crossings in early 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic. On that day, the airport registered a historic single-day record with 200 inbound and outbound flights.
"There are more international flights departing from Shenzhen than before. At the Shenzhen airport, self-service immigration procedures are now very convenient," said a Chinese traveler.
China has expanded its unilateral visa-free policy to 38 countries after the addition of nine more countries, namely Japan and eight European countries, starting from Nov 30 as it seeks to boost tourism and business travel.
On Dec 17, the National Immigration Administration announced the extension of permitted stay for eligible foreign travelers from the original 72 and 144 hours to 240 hours, or 10 days.
Under the updated policy, eligible citizens from 54 countries, including Russia, Brazil, Britain, the United States and Canada, can enter China visa-free when transiting to a third country or region.
"It's super easy to come to China with the visa free," said an international traveler.
The Bao'an airport commenced operations in 1991 and ranks among China's four largest and busiest airports.
Last year, the airport checkpoint helped expand 37 international passenger and cargo routes, and inspected a total of 54,000 inbound and outbound flights, a year-on-year increase of 60.5 percent.
Shenzhen airport handles 5.5 million entry-exit trips in 2024
