China Sees 152% Rise in Foreign Visitors, According to National Immigration Administration

Transcript of the National Immigration Administration's Press Conference on Immigration Management Work for the First Half of 2024

Hello everyone, we’ve long heard that China is expanding its visa-free policies to many countries, yet not much data measuring it. Today, as the Chinese National Immigration Administration（NIA） held its press conference, we finally have the data to measure the outcome of this policy.

Today, the Chinese NIA held a press conference to report on its operations for the first half of 2024. In short, entry and exit passenger numbers reached 287 million. While this number is still below the 344 million recorded in the first half of 2019, it’s still 70.9% higher compared to 2023. Among entry passengers, China issued 686,000 “visas on arrival,” a 267.9% year-on-year increase.

As China expands its visa-free policy to include EU states (and even some Five Eyes members), the number of foreigners entering the country has surged. According to today's report, in the first half of the year, 14.635 million foreign nationals entered China through various ports, marking a 152.7% increase year-on-year. Notably, 8.542 million of these entries were through visa-free arrangements, accounting for 52% of the total and representing a substantial 190.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

We also see surges in Taiwan compatriot permits; in the first half of the year, Fujian's Department issued 170,000 five-year Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan compatriots, a 47% increase year-on-year. They also issued 18,000 single-entry Mainland Travel Permits for Taiwan compatriots, a 66% increase year-on-year, with young Taiwanese accounting for 53% of these. The number of Taiwan compatriots entering Fujian's ports reached 420,000, a 1.2-fold increase compared to last year.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2X19FOCf9kW6fMXvDCs77A

Transcripts:

CNIA:

In the first half of the year, the national immigration management authorities inspected 287 million entry and exit travelers, a year-on-year increase of 70.9%, including 137 million mainland residents, 121 million Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and 29.22 million foreigners; inspected 15.419 million transportation vehicles (aircraft, ships, trains, and vehicles), a year-on-year increase of 56.9%, including 405,000 aircraft, 211,000 ships, 50,000 trains, and 14.753 million vehicles. 12.34 million ordinary passports were issued, a year-on-year increase of 23.2%; 46.152 million endorsements were issued for travel documents to and from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%; 1.431 million mainland travel permits were issued to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, basically unchanged from the same period last year; 686,000 port visas were issued, a year-on-year increase of 267.9%, and 388,000 foreigners were processed for stay and residence permits in China, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%. The 12367 immigration management government service platform has received a total of 2.718 million calls from more than 100 countries and regions around the world, with a satisfaction rate of 99.1%.

In the first half of the year, we strengthened the innovation and integration of immigration management policies and systems, and provided targeted supply to fully serve high-level opening up and high-quality development. Focusing on serving major national strategies and enhancing the vitality of economic and social development, the endorsement policy for talents traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao piloted in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area was extended to Beijing and Shanghai, further promoting exchanges and interactions between the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao in scientific research, academic, professional services and other fields; implemented 10 entry-exit policy measures to support Fujian in building a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait, further promoting personnel exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan and facilitating Taiwan compatriots' life and development in Fujian, and the number of Taiwan compatriots applying for entry and exit documents and coming to Fujian increased significantly, helping to deepen the integrated development of various fields across the Strait; expanded the scope of visa-free entry into Hainan for people from 59 countries, further supporting Hainan's comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up and serving and safeguarding the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port; fully implemented the policy of visa-free entry for foreign tourist groups traveling by cruise ship, and accelerated the development of China's cruise economy. Focusing on improving people's well-being and promoting exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel, the pilot implementation of "full online processing" for the replacement and reissuance of entry and exit documents in 20 cities including Beijing, the launch of "smart fast processing" and "nationwide handling" for business endorsements to Hong Kong and Macao, and the issuance of "individual tourist endorsements" to Hong Kong and Macao for eligible residents in 10 cities including Xi'an, Qingdao, and Taiyuan, and the implementation of the policy allowing personnel of "Qin-Ao tourist groups" to travel back and forth between Qin and Ao multiple times in a "group in, group out" manner, greatly facilitating the processing of documents and matters for entry and exit personnel, and facilitating business exchanges between the Mainland and Hong Kong and Macao; introduced 5 new measures to facilitate foreigners' travel to China, including relaxing the conditions for foreigners to apply for port visas, allowing foreigners to transit directly through hub airports such as Beijing Capital Airport for 24 hours without inspection, and simplifying the application materials for foreigners' visas and documents in China, added 13 new county-level acceptance points for foreigners' visas and documents in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other places, and expanded the coverage of port visa business to 100 open ports in 73 cities across the country, further opening up channels for foreigners to come to China and facilitating foreigners to work, study and live in China, greatly enhancing the sense of happiness and gain of Chinese and foreign personnel. Focusing on improving the customs clearance experience of Chinese and foreign personnel and ensuring smooth customs clearance at ports, the national border inspection authorities were deployed to optimize duty organization, strengthen dynamic management, and improve inspection efficiency, further implement the "two announcements and one reminder" system for passenger flow peaks during holidays, timely announce the predicted peak passenger flow at ports during holidays, announce the measures to be taken by ports to cope with passenger flow peaks, and remind passengers of matters needing attention during customs clearance, providing reference for the general public when traveling; continue to implement facilitating measures such as "green channels" for key cargo flights at airports, "fast lanes" for key material vehicles at land ports, and online declaration of "border inspection boarding codes" at water ports, implement "zero waiting" operation for international shipping vessels arriving at ports and "zero delay" inspection and release for departing vessels, ensuring efficient and smooth customs clearance of cargo.

In the first half of the year, we unswervingly implemented the overall national security concept and made every effort to maintain the security and stability of national borders and the normal order of entry and exit management. We severely cracked down on crimes that obstruct national (border) management, continued to deepen the management of "three-non" foreigners, investigated and handled 18,000 cases of crimes that obstruct national (border) management, arrested more than 34,000 criminal suspects, of which more than 29,000 were subject to criminal coercive measures and more than 4,800 were subject to administrative penalties, destroyed 105 transit and reception dens, and seized 699 involved transportation vehicles (ships); seized more than 41,000 "three-non" foreigners, of which more than 10,000 who met the statutory conditions were repatriated; cracked 298 drug cases involving 379 persons, including 66 cases involving more than 10,000 grams, and seized 4.8 tons of various drugs; severely cracked down on and rectified gun and explosives crimes and smuggling violations in border areas, seizing 786 guns and 26,000 bullets, and seizing smuggled goods worth 640 million yuan.

Questions from China Tourism News: Since last year, China has implemented unilateral visa exemption policies for multiple countries on a trial basis, and has implemented mutual visa exemption policies with some countries. How has the policy implementation been going so far? Is the number of foreigners entering China expected to increase this year?

Answer:

To further promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel, serve high-level opening up to the outside world, and promote high-quality development, since last year, China has successively implemented unilateral visa exemption policies for 15 countries including France, Germany, and Australia. Personnel from the above countries holding ordinary passports can enter China without a visa and stay for 15 days for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit. China has also newly established mutual visa exemption agreements with 7 countries including Singapore and Thailand. The implementation of relevant policies has played a positive role in enhancing mutual trust between countries, economic and trade exchanges, and personnel exchanges. According to statistics, in the first half of the year, the number of foreigners entering China through various ports nationwide reached 14.635 million, a year-on-year increase of 152.7%. Among them, 8.542 million entered through visa exemption, accounting for 52%, a year-on-year increase of 190.1%. The recently released World Economic Forum's "Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024" shows that China ranks eighth in the world in promoting the development of the tourism industry, and is the only developing economy among the top ten. With the continuous expansion of the visa-free "circle of friends" and the accelerated implementation of various policies, it has become a reality for foreign tourists to "come as they say" to travel in China. It is expected that the enthusiasm of foreigners visiting China will continue to rise in the second half of this year. We also sincerely invite more foreign friends to come to China to experience a real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China.

Question form Southern Weekly：The 10 entry-exit policy measures supporting Fujian in building a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait were officially implemented on January 1st of this year. Could you introduce the specific results of the policy implementation?

Answer：Since the implementation of the 10 entry-exit policy measures supporting Fujian in building a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait in January this year, the number of Taiwan compatriots applying for entry-exit documents and coming to Fujian has increased significantly. Fujian's role as the first home for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises has become increasingly prominent, and the atmosphere of "two sides of the strait as one family, Fujian and Taiwan as close relatives" has become even stronger.

First, the exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan have become closer. We focus on attracting the "first-time visitors" and implement the policy of "port application" for Taiwan compatriot permits. We grasp the demand of young Taiwan compatriots for "fingertip" document application and launch the "online application" service for Taiwan compatriot permits. Targeting the travel characteristics of tourist groups, we provide the convenience of "centralized application" of Taiwan compatriot permits for Taiwan tour groups, making the application process for Taiwan compatriots more convenient and the channels more diverse. We have added rapid customs clearance information collection and filing points at passenger transport ports to Taiwan, achieving full coverage of rapid customs clearance filing at ports, making the exchanges of personnel and ships between Fujian and Taiwan more convenient. In the first half of the year, Fujian's public security entry-exit administration departments issued 170,000 five-year Taiwan compatriot permits, a year-on-year increase of 47%; issued 18,000 one-time Taiwan compatriot permits, a year-on-year increase of 66%, with young Taiwan compatriots accounting for 53%; 420,000 Taiwan compatriots entered through Fujian ports, a year-on-year increase of 1.2 times, and 106,000 Taiwan compatriots coming to Fujian used convenient customs clearance services, and more than 8,400 ships traveling between Fujian and Taiwan enjoyed 24/7 rapid customs clearance services.

Second, Taiwan compatriots' life in Fujian has become more comfortable. We fully implement the policy of "willing to settle down completely" for Taiwan compatriots settling in Fujian, further simplifying application materials, optimizing the document application process, and reducing the time limit for document processing, smoothing the channels for Taiwan compatriots to settle in Fujian. We have launched the work of building Fujian into a demonstration zone for the convenient application of Taiwan compatriot permits, relying on the entry-exit document identity authentication service platform to provide free real-time identity verification services for Taiwan compatriots, facilitating the handling of government affairs, public services, Internet applications and other matters. We have deployed and implemented the policy of fully abolishing the temporary residence registration for Taiwan compatriots in Fujian, further facilitating the life and development of Taiwan compatriots in Fujian, making them feel more sense of gain, integration, and identity.

Third, it has become more convenient for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises to handle affairs. "Special windows for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises" are set up in all entry-exit service halls in Fujian, where Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises can enjoy all entry-exit government services related to Taiwan nearby. At the same time, "entry-exit service stations" have been set up in 10 Taiwan business and Taiwan enterprise associations to provide door-to-door services such as entry-exit policy consultation, document processing, and individual case assistance. The 12367 service platform provides round-the-clock "one-click" entry-exit policy consultation, business guidance and other services, especially the Southern Fujian dialect call service which has been warmly welcomed by Taiwan compatriots. Since the beginning of this year, more than 41,000 telephone consultations from Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan enterprises have been answered and handled.

Question from Dragon Television:Since the beginning of this year, the number of people applying for documents at entry and exit windows across the country has continued to climb, especially during holidays, with significant year-on-year increases. What specific measures has the National Immigration Administration taken in terms of serving the public in handling documents and affairs?

Answer: As the summer vacation approaches, various regions are experiencing a peak in students applying for entry and exit documents. According to statistics, in June, the country issued a total of 1.92 million ordinary passports, 1.55 million passes for travel to and from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and 5.19 million endorsements, an increase of 5.5%, 10.7%, and 3.8% month-on-month respectively. In order to meet the travel needs of the public, especially the needs of students for document processing, the National Immigration Administration has deployed local public security entry-exit administration departments to adapt to local conditions and take timely measures, comprehensively utilizing methods such as "adding windows, adding police, adding numbers, adding time" and "extended hours," "off-peak processing," "weekend processing," and "special sessions" to maximize efforts to improve service efficiency and convenience for the general public.

In Beijing, the public security entry-exit administration department has adhered to "prescribing the right medicine," focusing on the "main force" of the summer document processing peak. They have successively opened 6 "Friday student extended hours document processing special sessions," with the number of applications received in these special sessions approaching 50% of the total number of applications received on the same day, which has been unanimously well-received by students and parents. At the same time, they launched the summer peak document processing daily data display work, strengthening data tracking, monitoring, and analysis to help each processing window accurately identify bottlenecks and difficulties, and targeted improvement of window service quality and efficiency. In Shanghai, the public security entry-exit administration department organized 4 additional "night document processing special sessions" by region and in batches across the city, allowing applicants in need to directly go to the site for processing without the need for prior online appointments, facilitating the processing of entry and exit documents for the general public, especially students. The Tianjin Public Security Entry-Exit Administration Department organized 2 "student document processing themed service week" events, providing extended hours document processing convenience to serve students in the city with high school, middle school entrance exams, and overseas study document processing needs. The Dalian Public Security Entry-Exit Administration Department promoted government services to enter the campus, relying on the public security government service acceptance point set up at Dalian University of Technology to open the "Entry-Exit Campus Summer Special Session," providing campus document processing services for teachers and students planning to travel or study abroad during the summer vacation, allowing teachers and students to process various types of entry and exit documents in a one-stop manner. At the same time, they also provided teachers and students with publicity and education on entry-exit travel safety precautions and reminders of gambling and fraud risks, enhancing awareness of safe and civilized travel. The Guangzhou Public Security Entry-Exit Administration Department took the initiative to visit various schools such as South China University of Technology and Jinan University, summarizing and analyzing the entry and exit document processing needs of the majority of teachers and students, and organizing "on-site processing" and "centralized processing." They have held 14 on-site special sessions for teachers and students and 2 centralized processing sessions at entry-exit windows.

Question from CMG: With the rapid growth of entry and exit personnel, what work has the National Immigration Administration done in terms of combating cross-border illegal crimes, ensuring the security and stability of national borders, and maintaining normal entry and exit order?

Answer: With China's continuous expansion of opening up, the exchanges between Chinese and foreign personnel have become more frequent and continue to grow, promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and foreign countries. However, among the entry and exit personnel, there are also a very small number of lawbreakers who organize, lure, or engage in cross-border illegal criminal activities such as smuggling, cross-border gambling, and online fraud, infringing on the legitimate interests of the public and disrupting the normal entry and exit management order.

The national immigration management agencies give full play to their functional roles and prevent and combat all kinds of cross-border illegal criminal activities according to the law, weaving a tight safety net at the ports. First, they strengthen precise inspection and seizure at ports. They promptly analyze and judge new paths, new characteristics, and new trends of cross-border illegal criminal activities, dynamically adjust targeted inspection measures, and investigate and deal with lawbreakers who illegally enter or exit the country by fabricating facts and concealing the truth to deceive the border inspection authorities according to the law. Second, they strictly deploy border control. They comprehensively adopt measures such as physical prevention, technical prevention, and human prevention, dynamically set up front-line duty points, adjust and optimize the layout of control stations, carry out precise duty inspections, mobile patrols, and roadblock interceptions, and continue to deepen the centralized rectification of the border. Third, they thoroughly investigate illegal criminal cases. The national immigration management agencies deeply promote the "Marmot Hunting" operation-2024 to combat crimes that obstruct national (border) management, focusing on the current prominent and adversely affecting smuggling illegal crimes, organizing multiple rounds of similar case crackdowns and cluster battles, making every effort to "strike gangs, cut off channels, eliminate 'snakeheads,' and destroy networks," and resolutely crack down on illegal entry and exit criminal activities.