dynamics

163 Million Travel Entries and Departures Up 15.3% Year-on-Year

On April 15, the State Administration of Immigration conducted a press conference unveiling key immigration management statistics for the first quarter of 2025. This report highlighted a significant uptick in travel activity, with a total of 163 million entries and exits recorded, reflecting a robust 15.3% increase compared to the same period last year.

Breaking down the numbers, the data revealed that of the total travelers, 80.272 million were residents from the Mainland. In addition, 67.24 million travelers came from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, while 174.37 million were foreign visitors, showcasing substantial year-on-year growth rates of 15.4%, 11.2%, and an impressive 33.4% respectively. Furthermore, inspections of 8.495 million means of transport, including 239,000 aircraft, 25,000 trains, and 106,000 ships, were recorded, marking a 15.5% year-on-year increase.

The enforcement efforts of immigration authorities have also intensified, particularly in relation to national border management. Authorities have undertaken a series of operations aimed at cracking down on crimes that undermine border integrity. During the first quarter, it was noted that 2,851 criminal cases related to border obstruction were investigated, leading to the arrest of 8,402 suspects and the dismantling of 127 criminal gangs.

Moreover, thorough actions resulted in the destruction of 16 trafficking transit points and the seizure of 388 vehicles associated with these crimes. Notably, various illegal activities, including drug trafficking and gun-related crimes, witnessed rigorous scrutiny, with authorities seizing 888.4 kilograms of narcotics and a significant number of firearms and ammunition during this crackdown.

In line with promoting a higher level of openness in immigration, several initiatives were launched in the first quarter. This includes implementing a visa-free policy for ASEAN tour groups arriving in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna. Notably, Zhuhai introduced a regulated travel policy allowing residents seamless weekly trips to Macau.

The Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone also saw the introduction of a 'one visa, multiple travels' policy, easing travel regulations for its residents. Authorities are working hard to facilitate urgent travels for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, ensuring effective services are available for transit through the mainland.

The push for a more streamlined immigration process has led to noteworthy advancements, such as expanding the coverage of government services. In the first quarter, a total of 5.153 million ordinary passports and 248.54 million travel vouchers for residents were issued.

Additionally, 569,000 travel permits for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents were granted, alongside 361,000 visa documents for foreigners. The Immigration Administration's government service platform reported an engagement of approximately 45.81 million inquiries from both domestic and foreign personnel.

The platform also supported 16.8 million free identity verification services aimed at Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, along with overseas Chinese and international travelers. Furthermore, the National Immigration Administration hotlines received around 1.68 million inquiries, topping out with a satisfaction rate of 99.5% from users.