According to the Chongqing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection on January 9, the Station inspected more than 3.41 million entry-exit personnel and more than 2,300 entry-exit flights in 2019, up by 5.2% and 4.8% respectively.
An airplane takes off at the Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
South Korean tops the list of foreign visitors
On December 1, 2019, Chongqing officially launched the policy of 144-hour visa-free transit, making it closer to developed countries and regions in terms of politics, economics, and culture. The number of arrived and departed foreigners of Chongqing aviation port in 2019 reached over 280,000, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. Foreigners from 183 countries (regions) entered China via the Chongqing port, an increase of 4 countries (regions) comparing with the year of 2018. Ranking by the nationality of foreigners in Chongqing, the top five countries are South Korea, Thailand, the US, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Over the past year, the Station has facilitated the Chongqing Aviation Port to add seven new air routes passing through countries along the Belt and Road and set up the dedicated channels to serve the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. In addition, the Station promoted the regular operation of the dedicated circuit for the Belt and Road and the implementation of 144-hour visa-free transit policy. These measures all help create a good port environment for Chongqing to expand its international influence and to attract foreign investment.
Over 60% use self-service customs clearance
The number of people qualified for using self-service customs clearance is continuously rising in the wake of the popularization of electronic certificates and the increase of foreigners that permanently settle in China. Nearly 2 million passengers at Chongqing aviation port used self-service customs clearance in 2019, accounting for 62.2% of the total.
Backed by the upgraded intelligent level of the Station, the proportion of people using self-service customs clearance has further increased, and customs clearance time for outbound and inbound passengers further shortened, greatly facilitating the smooth travel of passengers.
Thailand becomes the No. 1 outbound destination of Chongqing people
So far, China has implemented a visa-free transit policy and arrival visa policy in 71 countries and regions. The number of international (regional) passenger/cargo air routes at Chongqing aviation port is also increasing. In 2019, a total of 13 international passenger/cargo air routes were added, including air routes from Chongqing to Budapest, Hungary, to Okinawa, Japan, and to Vientiane and Luang Prabang, Laos. A total of 95 international (regional) air routes have been opened. More than 2.66 million residents departed from and arrived at China for private matters through Chongqing aviation port in 2019. The countries most visited through Chongqing aviation port are Thailand and Vietnam.