Hunan Sees Growing Volume of Entry and Exit Trips in 2025

At 10:49 am on November 21, the 1 millionth passenger of the year cleared customs at the Changsha Huanghua Airport. With this, the total number of inbound and outbound passenger trips at Changsha port this year has surpassed one million, 18 days earlier than in 2024. This reflects, from one perspective, a renewed elevation of the benchmark for the "hub of reform and opening up in inland regions."

This represents a "two-way journey" of policy dividends and international passenger flows. In recent years, China has introduced a series of favorable entry and exit management policies, such as implementing 240-hour visa-free transit policy, continuously expanding the list of countries eligible for unilateral visa exemption and mutual visa exemption, and adopting new measures for online completion of arrival card for foreigners. Hunan Province has seized these opportunities and taken proactive actions, designating 2025 as the "Year of Inbound Tourism Development" and implementing measures such as "allowing inbound group travel visas for groups as small as two people" and "keeping the overall customs clearance time for inbound flights within 60 minutes," thereby advancing higher-level opening-up.

Increases or decreases in cross-border passenger flows can reflect the global flow of capital, talent, and tourists. Destinations that are safer, more stable, and vibrant tend to attract more visitors. With its vast market, comprehensive industrial chains, and continuously improving business environment, China is becoming a rare source of "certainty." The fact that foreign nationals account for as much as 40% of travelers through Hunan ports serves as the strongest testament to this "certainty."

Looking ahead, Hunan should build on the momentum and turn policy dividends into developmental advantages, with a focus on "precision-oriented" efforts. For instance, leveraging its regional advantage, Hunan should conduct in-depth research on the preferences and business needs of tourists from emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and develop more targeted cultural tourism products and investment promotion projects. Additionally, continuing to fulfill the "60-minute customs clearance" commitment and advancing the construction of "smart border inspection" are key to building international reputation. On this basis, Hunan can further invest in technological equipment, optimize service models, and provide multilingual services to ensure that every traveler and business professional who chooses Hunan enjoys efficient, convenient, and warm customs clearance services.

At the same time, it is essential to build an "aviation plus industry" ecosystem, actively coordinating and collaborating with airlines to increase the frequency or launch new routes to key markets such as countries along the Belt and Road Initiative and RCEP member states. This will create an "Air Silk Road" for opening up, building bridges for Hunan enterprises to go global and Hunan products to reach international markets, while also opening channels for introducing high-end talent and cutting-edge technologies.

An open and developing China represents both opportunity and confidence for the world. Hunan should adopt a broader global perspective and a more proactive, enterprising stance, seamlessly integrating its cultural tourism resources and industrial strengths with open policies, delivering exceptional services, and highlighting the "sincerity of Hunan" in reform and opening up. 

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn