Chongqing Airport Reports 2 Million Cross-Border Passengers, Rising 30% YoY

Chongqing - Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport reported an increase in cross-border travel in 2025, underscoring the city's growing role as an inland gateway for international visitors. 

As of November 18, the airport recorded more than two million inbound and outbound passenger movements, a 30% year-on-year increase, according to official data.

A total of 893,000 overseas travelers- including residents of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and foreign nationals- passed through the airport, accounting for 44.5% of all cross-border passengers. Authorities noted this is the highest proportion on record and ranks Chongqing second nationwide among airports handling more than 40 million passengers annually.

Officials attribute the growth to China's expanded visa-free and transit visa–free policies. These measures, combined with Chongqing's development as a transportation and logistics hub in western China, have strengthened the city's position as a key entry point for foreign travelers.

Chongqing has also seen rapid increases in flights to Southeast Asia, with more direct routes and higher flight frequencies to major cities in the region. Business exchanges and tourism activities between Chongqing and Southeast Asia continue to rise. Since the beginning of the year, 436,000 passengers from Southeast Asian countries have entered or exited Chongqing, accounting for 71% of all foreign travelers. Their primary travel purposes were tourism, business, and study.

Southeast Asia is also a major destination for travelers departing from Chongqing. Local border authorities processed 1.11 million mainland Chinese passengers in 2025, a 7.6% increase from last year. Of these, 509,000 traveled to Southeast Asia, with Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia being the three most visited countries. Outbound travelers mainly cited employment, study, family visits, and business conferences.

To accommodate rising international travel, the Chongqing General Station of Exit-Entry Border Inspection has expanded service measures in line with directives from the National Immigration Administration and local government. Authorities have created dedicated service areas for temporary entry permits, enabling appointment-based processing, on-arrival handling, and one-stop completion. Officers with strong foreign-language skills and professional training were assigned to these tasks, resulting in significantly improved processing efficiency.