Foreign tourists flock to Hainan

27.09.2024 China Hainan 13

The number of foreign visitors to Hainan Province is rising due to the convenient immigration policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port, local authorities said.

The province's entry and exit policies are considered the most favorable in China, said Wang Haixing, director Haikou Entry and Exit Border Inspection Main Station, at a press conference on Thursday.

In February, the National Immigration Administration introduced a new policy to expand visa-free entry opportunities for people from 59 countries wishing to visit Hainan. In May, a 15-day visa-free entry policy for foreign tourist groups arriving in Hainan on cruise ships came into effect, and in July, visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups arriving in the island province from Hong Kong or Macau was allowed for up to 144 hours.

As of Thursday, 1.514 million inbound and outbound guests have been screened this year, up 278.5 percent from last year, according to station data.

This year, 238,500 foreign tourists entered Hainan without a visa, 6.5 times more than last year, accounting for more than 80 percent of the total number of foreign visitors to the island.

Wang said the visa-free regime has become the main method for foreigners to visit Hainan, and it has promoted major international events such as the annual Boao Forum Asia Conference and the China International Consumer Products Expo.

Lo Zhengyu, deputy director of the station, stressed that border control authorities have taken a number of effective measures to ensure the smooth implementation of travel policies. For example, the number of passenger screening channels at all provincial airports has increased from 39 to 98, with the activation of 44 inbound and outbound express channels.

“This expansion has significantly reduced passenger waiting times and increased the efficiency of customs clearance.” , he said.

In addition, passengers from 59 countries who are eligible for visa-free entry into Hainan, as well as foreign tour groups entering Hainan from Hong Kong or Macau without a visa for 144 hours, No more filling out entry cards. In addition, passengers arriving on cruise ships will no longer need to provide fingerprints.

“We will implement innovative measures to improve the travel experience for Chinese and foreign citizens, further creating a more convenient and streamlined atmosphere border control," Luo said.

Hainan's two major airports have launched 58 international passenger routes - 36 at Haikou Airport and 22 at Sanya Airport - connecting 31 cities in 18 countries and regions.

Two international routes launched this week alone and a third will open this weekend, bringing the total number of international flights to and from the island to 61 by the end of this month, according to Hainan Airport Group.

A route connecting Taiyuan, Shanxi province and Singapore via Sanya began operating on Tuesday. Haikou Meilan International Airport opened its first US route on Thursday, offering service to Seattle, Washington. The opening ceremony for the first international flight from Qionghai to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will take place on Saturday morning at Boao International Airport.

“For many foreign visitors, traveling to Hainan without prior planning has become a reality,” Mai said Weiwen, General Manager of Hainan Wenhua Tourism Group. “With the growing number of international flights launched in Hainan, local travel agencies are seizing the opportunity to expand their market by expanding overseas into foreign tourism markets.”

Russian expat Alexey Andreev, a lecturer at Hainan University, in delighted with the preferential visa-free policy.

“I plan to invite my family members to Hainan because of the ease of travel without the need for a visa,” he said, also highlighting the convenience of direct flights from Moscow to Haikou and Sanya, as well as from other cities of the world to Hainan, which makes trips to the tropical island more accessible for foreign guests.

Source: gov.cn