Since the start of this year, border checkpoints across Henan have cleared over 105,000 entries of foreign nationals, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. On December 11, at the press conference on the services provided by Henan General Border Control Station for economic and social development, Sun Zhitao, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Chief of Henan General Border Control Station, briefed journalists on the profile of foreign nationals entering Henan via local ports during the Q&A session.
Number of incoming foreign nationals hits 1.3 times the previous all-time high for the same period
The number of foreign inbound visitors has set a new historical record, reaching 1.3 times the highest figure registered in the same period of any previous year. Henan General Border Control Station has actively responded to the deployment of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government to expand opening-up and boosted the full recovery and growth of international air routes at Henan’s ports. It has provided high-quality support for five intercontinental routes including flights to London (the United Kingdom), Milan (Italy) and Luxembourg, as well as ten East Asian and Southeast Asian routes linking the province with the Republic of Korea, Thailand and other destinations. Altogether, 18 international and regional passenger air routes have been opened, with weekly flights exceeding 100, offering foreign visitors more options and convenience for trips to Henan.
Over 80,000 foreign nationals entered Henan visa-free since the start of this year
Dividends from visa exemption policies keep unfolding. As China continues to expand its “visa-free circle”, coupled with the rollout of the 240-hour transit visa exemption policy in Henan, travelling to Henan has become easier and more flexible for foreign nationals. Giving full play to its border control functions, the Station has set up dedicated pre-arrival service zones and exclusive visa-free channels, continuously streamlined entry procedures for foreigners, and delivered multilingual one-stop convenient services. These measures effectively shorten processing time for entry formalities and further improve the customs clearance experience and satisfaction of foreign inbound travellers. Since the beginning of this year, more than 80,000 foreign nationals have entered Henan under visa-free arrangements, surging 118% year-on-year and accounting for 76% of all foreign arrivals. Visa-free entry has become a major way for foreigners to visit Henan.
More than 45,000 foreign tourists arrived via Henan’s air ports
Interest in travelling to Henan among foreign nationals keeps rising. Over 45,000 foreigners entered Henan through the province’s air ports for tourism and sightseeing this year, up 79% year-on-year, with the upward momentum continuing. To better facilitate inbound tourism, the General Station has worked closely with joint inspection units at the airport, conducted outreach on preferential visa-free policies to major airlines and travel agencies. Together with provincial departments of commerce, culture and tourism, banking and other authorities, it has carried out tourism promotion campaigns covering food, accommodation, transport, sightseeing, shopping and entertainment for foreign visitors at Zhengzhou Air Port, supporting the launch of premium travel products such as the “240-hour transit tour”. As the international brand “Travel Henan, Discover China” gains greater global recognition, an increasing number of foreigners will choose to travel to Henan and experience the long history and profound cultural charm of the Central Plains.