上半年免签入境外国人同比增长53.9%—— 签证便利化政策红利释放

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant increase in foreign travelers benefiting from China's visa facilitation policies, particularly the 240-hour transit visa exemption, which has led to a surge in tourism and improved cross-border travel efficiency [1][2]. Group 1: Visa Facilitation Policies - The number of foreign travelers entering China under the visa exemption policy reached 13.64 million in the first half of the year, marking a 53.9% year-on-year increase [1]. - The transit visa exemption policy was optimized in December last year, extending the stay duration to 10 days and increasing the number of applicable provinces to 24 [1]. - The policy aims to enhance China's accessibility and friendliness in the global tourism market, with major visitor sources including Russia, the USA, the UK, Canada, and Mexico [1]. Group 2: Enhanced Border Control Efficiency - Beijing's border control has improved efficiency by adding 11 temporary entry channels at the capital's airports, allowing for streamlined processing of foreign travelers [2]. - The introduction of group travel port visas in Shanghai has also seen a 34% increase in individual port visa applications this year [2]. - The electronic port visa system in Shanghai has shown a month-on-month increase of 54.95% in issuance [2]. Group 3: Regional Policies and Innovations - Various regional visa exemption policies have been implemented, such as the ASEAN tourist group exemption in Yunnan, which allows groups to enter without visas [3]. - The number of foreign tourists entering Hainan under the 30-day visa exemption policy reached 269,000 in the first half of the year, a 76% increase [4]. - Innovative measures at border checkpoints, such as pre-checks and real-time flow reporting, have been introduced to enhance the efficiency of foreign tourist entry [5]. Group 4: Economic and Cultural Impact - The expansion of visa exemption policies has led to increased participation in trade fairs, with Guangzhou's border control facilitating over 222 million foreign visitors in the first half of the year, a 40% increase [6]. - Sports events have also attracted foreign tourists, with a 20% increase in South Korean visitors to Jiangsu since the start of a local football league [6]. - Cultural events, such as the Qingdao International Beer Festival, have drawn significant foreign attendance, further promoting cross-border cultural exchange [7].