A border inspection officer serves inbound and outbound travelers. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
As of May 9, Xiamen Port's inbound and outbound passenger volume for this year has exceeded two million, reaching the milestone 27 days earlier than in 2024. The number of foreign nationals passing through the port has hit a record high for the same period.
The significant growth follows the implementation of China's streamlined entry policies for foreigners and Xiamen's hosting of multiple international events.
Statistics show nearly 170,000 foreign nationals have entered via Xiamen Port this year, including over 90,000 visa-exempt arrivals, representing year-on-year increases of 16 percent and 86 percent, respectively. Additionally, more than 6,000 foreign travelers have benefited from the transit visa waiver program.
The sustained growth in passenger flow is closely tied to the expansion of air routes and increased cruise ship visits. As of now, Xiamen Port offers 27 scheduled international and regional direct flight routes, connecting destinations across Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and beyond.
Additionally, inbound tourist groups via cruise ships have shown notable growth. By May 9, the port had processed seven homeport cruise voyages and five port-of-call cruises, handling nearly 40,000 inbound and outbound passengers.
China unveiled a slew of measures to further optimize its departure tax fefund policy, allowing overseas travelers to apply for a refund if they spend at least 200 yuan at the same store on the same day and meet other relevant requirements.
China updated its tax refund policy for foreign tourists, shifting from a refund-upon-departure model to a refund-upon-purchase model, the State Taxation Administration (STA) said on April 8.
