Hunan's ports handled 194,000 entry-exit passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, increasing by 33% year on year, according to the Hunan General Station of Immigration Inspection. The Spring Festival travel rush, also known as chunyun, lasted from February 2 to March 13 this year.

Foreign travelers made 68,000 inbound and outbound trips, among whom 85% benefited from China's visa-free entry policy. The top three sources of foreign travelers were South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand. Chinese mainland residents made 120,000 trips, rising 28% over last year. The most popular outbound destinations were Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Travelers from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions made 6,000 entry-exit trips, a 14-fold increase compared to the previous year.

During this period, over 1,100 inbound and outbound passenger flights were operated through Hunan's airports, up 26.4% over the chunyun period of last year. The air routes reached China's Hong Kong and 15 cities in 11 countries: Nairobi (Kenya), London (UK), Bangkok (Thailand); Seoul, Daegu, Busan, and Cheongju (South Korea); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Singapore; Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi (Vietnam); Vientiane (Laos); Phnom Penh (Cambodia); Yangon (Myanmar); and Jakarta (Indonesia). The route to and from South Korea was the busiest, with its flights taking up 23.5% of the total. Those to and from Thailand and Malaysia followed closely, both accounting for 17.7%.

To ensure smooth customs clearance, the Hunan General Station of Immigration Inspection adjusted inspection channels according to passenger flows; implemented a dynamic police officer deployment mechanism and added volunteers for inquiry and guidance services; coordinated with airports, cultural and tourism departments, civil aviation administration, and airlines; and, enhanced publicity of the online entry declaration mechanism for foreigners as well as the extension of visa-free policy to British and Canadian nationals. During the travel rush period, the station handled more than 2,000 inquires from both Chinese and foreign passengers through its 12367 platform, marking a year-on-year growth of 57.7%.

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

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn