As of February 23, Hunan recorded 37,000 entries and exits and handled over 230 inbound and outbound passenger flights during the Spring Festival holiday, marking year-on-year increases of 28.7% and 19% respectively and hitting a three-year high.

The Changsha port recorded 34,000 entry-exit trips and over 210 entry-exit flights; and, the Zhangjiajie port handled over 3,300 entry-exit trips and 20 inbound and outbound flights. 

More than 9,000 entry and exit trips were made by foreign travelers, including over 4,700 entries with a year-on-year growth of 4%. Over 80% of the inbound foreign travelers benefited from the visa-free policies. They mainly came from South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia.

The number of entry-exit trips made by mainland travelers has grown steadily. Continuing the pattern of "high concentration in hot destinations," outbound travelers via the Changsha port mainly headed to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, while those through the Zhangjiajie port mainly went to South Korea.

According to the Hunan General Station of Immigration Inspection, the entry-exit passenger flows at Hunan's ports have been increasing steadily during the Spring Festival holidays in recent years. In the Spring Festival holiday last year, the number of entry-exit trips reached 29,000, increasing by 2% year on year. This year, a significant surge has been seen in this figure, thanks to the extended Spring Festival holiday, coupled with the dividends of multiple innovative immigration management policies, such as the online entry declaration for foreigners, the extended 240-hour visa-free transit policy coverage, and China's mutual visa exemption agreements with Thailand and Singapore.

The Hunan General Station of Immigration Inspection has closely monitored passenger flow at the ports during the Spring Festival, promptly adding inspection channels during peak hours to minimize waiting times for travelers; implementing a dynamic police officer deployment mechanism to better serve passengers and maintain order at ports; and promoting innovative immigration management policies and enhancing coordination and collaboration with airports, airlines, and port inspection units to ensure smooth and efficient customs clearance.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Pang Yuehui 

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn