Foreign tourists have a group photo taken at the Palace Museum in Beijing on September 5, 2024. Photo: VCG
In 2024 China recorded a total of 610 million entries and exits, marking a 43.9 percent year-on-year increase, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) told a press conference on Tuesday.
The numbers include 291 million entries and exits made by Chinese mainland residents, 254 million by residents from Hong Kong, Macao and the Taiwan island, and 64.88 million by foreign nationals, reflecting growth rates of 41.3 percent, 38.8 percent, and 82.9 percent, respectively.
The number of foreign nationals entering the country without a visa reached 20.115 million, presenting a year-on-year increase of 112.3 percent.
China has expanded unilateral visa-free access for travelers from 38 countries, allowing stays of up to 30 days. In the latest policy update announced on December 17, China introduced more ports for visa-free transit, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Global Times