In the first quarter of 2025, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport port inspected over four million inbound and outbound passengers, marking a 24.5 percent year-on-year increase.

Passengers queue for customs clearance at the Baiyun Airport port in Guangzhou. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

This year, factors such as the relaxation of China's visa-free transit policy, increased international flights and routes, and improved customs clearance procedures have collectively driven this growth. In the first quarter, Baiyun Airport port opened and resumed six new international routes, accumulating over 90 international destinations. The inspection of global and regional passenger and cargo flights exceeded 28,000, showing a 15.2 percent increase compared to the previous year.

During the first quarter, airport passenger flows continued to rise, with an average daily inspection of over 44,000 inbound and outbound passengers, reaching a peak of nearly 55,000 passengers in a single day.

The number of foreign nationals entering and exiting reached 1.26 million, a 45.7 percent year-on-year increase, ranking the port first among large airports in the country. Unilateral visa exemptions and reciprocal visa exemptions for foreign nationals reached 276,000, accounting for approximately 44.9 percent of the total number of foreign nationals entering.

Furthermore, Baiyun Immigration Inspection issued temporary entry permits to over 20,000 eligible foreign passengers, providing transit visa-free convenience, showing a growth of over 30 percent. The number of inbound travelers from countries such as Thailand and Malaysia has seen a significant increase.