(ECNS) -- China recorded 610 million border crossings in 2024, including 20.12 million foreign nationals entering visa-free, according to data released by the National Immigration Administration (NIA) at a press conference on Tuesday.
The figures reflect a significant surge in international travel, with overall crossings increasing 43.9 percent year-on-year.
NIA spokesperson Lv Ning highlighted that the total included 291 million mainland residents, 254 million Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, as well as 64.88 million foreign nationals, with foreign entries up 82.9 percent compared to 2023.
Immigration authorities also processed 32.57 million cross-border trips by vehicle, ship, train, and plane, a 38.8 percent increase from the previous year.
Among these, 879,000 flights (+62.6 percent), 101,000 train crossings (+11 percent), 437,000 ships (+8.2 percent), and 31.15 million motor vehicles (+38.9 percent) were recorded.
The issuance of travel documents also saw substantial growth. In 2024, the NIA issued 23.32 million ordinary passports (+26.5 percent), 94.51 million permits and endorsements for mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan (+9.8 percent), and 2.578 million travel permits for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents traveling to the mainland. Additionally, 2.597 million visas and related documents were issued to foreign nationals, marking a 52.3 percent increase.
China’s visa-free entry policies played a pivotal role in the sharp rise in foreign visitors, with related entries growing by an impressive 112.3 percent year-on-year.
Beyond border crossings, the NIA provided 130 million online services, including inquiries and travel-related assistance, and conducted 34.07 million identity verifications for visitors from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese and foreign nationals. Its 12367 hotline received 7.08 million calls, achieving an average satisfaction rate of 99.36 percent.
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