The scene of the Baiyun Frontier Inspection Station.

Recently, China announced a visa-free policy trial for ordinary passport holders from countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and Poland. According to reporters from the Baiyun Frontier Inspection Station, as the number of visa-free countries increases, in the first half of 2024 (up to 12:00 on June 30th), over 2.06 million foreign nationals have entered or exited via Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, marking a 182.1% increase compared to the same period last year. Among these travelers, those from Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and the United States were the top three, with noticeable increases also seen among visitors from New Zealand, Australia, and Poland.

Since the beginning of this year, Guangzhou has hosted a series of international events and competitions such as the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair and the Guangzhou International Dragon Boat Invitation Tournament. Coupled with local festive tourism activities during Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival, these events have significantly stimulated the local economy. According to statistics from the Baiyun Frontier Inspection Station, the number of foreign visitors entering China via this port under visa-free policies for purposes such as business negotiations, cultural exchanges, and tourism has notably increased to 286,000, constituting 13.9% of all inbound foreign travelers.

Meanwhile, on overseas social media platforms, "China travel" has become a new hot topic. The 144-hour visa-free transit policy has greatly facilitated immersive experiences for foreign travelers visiting China. Around 6:00 PM on June 29th, British traveler Joe, upon successfully obtaining the 144-hour visa-free transit permit upon arrival in Guangzhou, gave a thumbs-up to the immigration police, saying, "This policy is very convenient, and the experience was excellent."

Reporters have learned that the current 144-hour visa-free transit policy applies to 54 countries. According to statistics, since the beginning of this year, over 5,000 foreign travelers have entered via Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport port using the 144-hour visa-free transit policy. To facilitate efficient entry for travelers, the Baiyun Frontier Inspection Station has arranged immigration officers proficient in over ten languages including English, Indonesian, and Arabic. They actively assist and guide travelers from various countries through customs procedures.

It is reported that Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport port currently serves over 230 passenger destinations, with approximately 1,500 round-trip international and regional flights per week. In the second half of 2024, Baiyun Airport port will launch 17 new international and regional routes, including flights to Perth, Australia, and Belgrade, Serbia.