来源：中国新闻网 广州边检总站免签外国人同比增长超136% 中新社广州12月17日电 (方伟彬 史雪晴 林圣敏)广州出入境边防检查总站(下称"广州边检总站")17日发布 消息，截至当日0时，该总站下辖口岸已有约2.4万名符合条件的外国人享受240小时过境免签政策便 利，较去年同期72/144小时过境免签人数增长136.15%。 免签旅客中，俄罗斯、美国、英国等国家人员占比较高，以旅游为目的的旅客占比近一半，3月、4月、 10月、11月等商务旅游旺季申请量尤为集中，充分彰显政策的强劲吸引力和对广州文旅、经贸的促进作 用。 12月17日，中国240小时过境免签政策实施满一周年。一年来，政策持续深化让广州口岸成为外籍人士 来华经贸、旅游的"强磁场"。第137、138届中国进出口商品交易会期间，广州边检总站所辖口岸累计保 障52.1万人次外商入境参展，较前两届增长33.6%，创历史新高。不少采购商借助240小时免签的时间优 势，实现"参展+大湾区文旅"双重体验，有效带动地方消费活力。 广州市文化广电旅游局数据显示，2025年前三季度，广州入境"过夜"游客达399.83万人次，同比增长 13.02%；入境文旅消费28. ...

Group 1 - The National Immigration Administration has introduced 10 innovative measures to support expansion and high-quality development, with several implemented in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone [1] - New policies include a "face recognition" fast track for passage and a 240-hour visa-free transit for citizens from 55 countries, effective from November 5 [9] - The implementation of these measures aims to facilitate integration between Hengqin and Macao, as well as contribute to the Greater Bay Area development [9] Group 2 - The first batch of travelers passed through the Hengqin port shortly after the new measures were enacted, experiencing a smooth passage process [3] - A student from Macao expressed satisfaction with the new "face recognition" process, which took approximately ten seconds to complete [5] - The Hengqin border inspection station collaborated with Macao's security agencies to conduct multiple technical adjustments and pressure tests, with over 6,000 participants since early October [7]

Core Points - The National Immigration Administration has introduced 10 innovative measures to support expansion and high-quality development, with several implemented in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone [1] - The measures include a smart fast track for "face recognition" passage and a new 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 55 countries [5] Group 1 - The Hengqin port welcomed its first batch of travelers shortly after the new measures were implemented, with users reporting a smooth experience using the "face recognition" system [3] - The implementation of the "face recognition" passage involved multiple rounds of technical adjustments and crowd pressure tests, with over 6,000 participants in total and a peak of 2,600 in a single day [5] - Starting from November 5, the Hengqin port has also introduced a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from 55 countries, enhancing connectivity and integration between Macao and the Greater Bay Area [5]

Core Insights - The implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy has significantly boosted China's inbound tourism market during the recent "May Day" holiday, with a 130% year-on-year increase in inbound travel orders reported by Ctrip [6][5][12] - Various regions in China are actively promoting their unique cultural and tourism offerings to attract foreign visitors, leading to a notable rise in inbound tourist numbers across multiple destinations [10][11][14] Group 1: Inbound Tourism Growth - The inbound tourism market in China has seen a strong recovery, with a reported 1,089.6 million people entering and exiting the country during the "May Day" holiday, marking a 28.7% increase compared to the previous year [7] - The peak day for inbound and outbound travel was May 3, with 2.297 million people crossing borders on that day [7] - The demand for cultural experiences among foreign tourists is evolving towards deeper and higher-quality engagements, with local culinary experiences seeing a 6.8-fold increase in orders [10] Group 2: Policy Support and Infrastructure - A series of facilitative policies, including the 30-day visa-free entry for South Korean passport holders, have contributed to the influx of tourists, with efficient border control processes reported [7][9] - The introduction of optimized tax refund policies for departing tourists is expected to further stimulate inbound consumption [8][9] - Enhanced transportation networks, such as direct train services from Vietnam to Yunnan, have made it easier for foreign tourists to enter China [9] Group 3: Regional Highlights - Various regions, including Sichuan and Shaanxi, have reported significant increases in inbound tourist numbers, with Sichuan seeing a 114% rise in inbound travel orders during the holiday [14] - The Shanghai cruise port experienced a record high of nearly 30,000 inbound and outbound passengers on May 5, showcasing the popularity of cruise tourism [11] - Cultural events and local experiences, such as the "Long River Night Tour" in Wuhan, have attracted international visitors, contributing to a 70% increase in inbound travel orders [12][13]

Core Insights - The "China Travel" phenomenon has seen significant growth, particularly during the recent May Day holiday, with inbound tourism orders surging by 130% year-on-year [4][6][9] - The implementation of policies such as the 240-hour visa-free transit and the new "buy and refund" tax refund policy has stimulated this growth [2][8] - The tourism market in China is projected to enter a "super cycle" by 2025, with domestic travel expected to reach 314 million trips during the May Day holiday, a 6.4% increase from the previous year [3][10] Policy Impact - The 240-hour visa-free transit policy has led to 9.215 million inbound visitors, a 40.2% increase compared to the previous year, with 71.3% of these being visa-free entries [1][8] - The "buy and refund" tax refund policy has lowered the threshold for refunds, further encouraging spending among foreign tourists [8][9] Market Trends - The tourism and hotel indices have shown positive momentum in the stock market, with significant increases following the holiday [6][9] - The influx of high-spending tourists is expected to enhance the contribution of inbound tourism to China's GDP, which currently stands at 0.5% compared to 1%-2% in developed countries [9][10] Future Projections - Morgan Stanley and other international research institutions predict that China's inbound tourism market could grow by 4 to 8 times over the next decade [7][9] - The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be a key growth area for global tourism, with China's role being crucial in this expansion [11][12] Consumer Behavior - The rise of social media has significantly influenced travel trends, with platforms driving a 200% increase in hotel search indices during the holiday [6] - The appeal of cultural experiences and diverse activities has attracted a large number of foreign tourists, particularly in cities like Shenzhen and Beijing [4][5][9]