Hengqin Port recorded more than 280,000 passenger trips and 36,000 vehicle clearances during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday from June 19 to 21, up 12% and 34% year-on-year respectively, driven by expanded visa-free transit policies and increased cross-border travel by residents from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.
Data showed that during the holiday, the port handled more than 5,000 foreign visitors, up 23% year-on-year.
"We came from South Korea. We entered under the visa-free policy, which was very convenient and fast," said Jeon Jin, a South Korean tourist.
In recent years, the scope of various visa-free transit policies for foreign nationals has continued to expand. Last November, Hengqin Port was added as an eligible port of entry under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, helping drive rapid growth in foreign passenger traffic through the port.
Meanwhile, residents from the Chinese mainland made 166,000 clearances via Hengqin Port, including more than 97,000 visitors holding tourist exit endorsements for HK and Macao.
Many Hong Kong and Macao residents also traveled through Hengqin Port to watch dragon boat races and visit relatives and friends across the Chinese mainland. During the holiday, cross-border visitors from Hong Kong and Macao exceeded 108,000, up 31% year-on-year and accounting for 38% of the port's total passenger traffic.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Photo | Hengqin Immigration Inspection Station
