Guangzhou, the provincial capital of South China's Guangdong Province, will become the third city on the Chinese mainland, following Beijing and Shanghai, to implement the 72-hour visa-free transit policy starting from August.

The announcement was made that foreign passengers who transit at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport can enjoy a visa-free stay for up to three days.

The move is a gesture of simplifying exit and entry procedures and boosting the local tourism industry, said the provincial government on Tuesday.

The policy applies to passport holders of 45 selected nations. Passengers will also need valid visas and onward airline tickets for a third country, said Zhang Yongqiang, a deputy head of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department.

The 45 countries include 31 European countries, six North and South American countries, two Oceanic countries and another six Asian countries, added Zhang.

The Beijing Capital International Airport, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport and its sister Hongqiao airport opened their doors to the same 45 countries, starting from January this year.

Zhao Yufang, deputy governor of the province, said foreign travelers can travel around the province during their stay of 72 hours, differentiating the Guangzhou version from its precedents in Beijing and Shanghai, where local authorities do not allow foreign tourists to leave the city during their stay.

The tourists have to depart from Baiyun airport once their stay in the province is over.

Zhao also said that the launch of this policy paves the way for transforming Guangzhou into an international aviation hub, promotes the inbound tourist industry and helps the city become a key metropolis in the country. 

The Shanghai Securities News reported Wednesday that Guangzhou's attraction as an international aviation pivot will be boosted.

It is estimated that there will be 1.5 million international transit passengers in 2015, up from 1 million this year and 700,000 in 2012, Baiyun airport was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Global Times