Over 2.05 million daily cross-border trips expected during Spring Festival holiday

The average daily number of inbound and outbound travelers nationwide is expected to surpass 2.05 million during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, marking a 14.1 percent increase year-on-year, China's National Immigration Administration announced on Thursday.

Driven by the country's visa-free policy and consumption-incentive measures, both inbound and outbound tourism are anticipated to grow during the nine-day holiday period starting Sunday, the administration stated. The peak for outbound travel is forecast for Sunday, while inbound passenger flows are expected to peak between Feb 22 and 23.

Average daily cross-border passenger volumes are projected to reach approximately 104,000 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, 57,000 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong province, 43,000 at Beijing Capital International Airport, 21,000 at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan province, and 18,000 at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport in Guangdong.

Land border crossings adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao are expected to experience relatively steady traffic, with peak flows likely between Feb 18 and 19.

The administration has made special arrangements to ensure smooth border inspection services during the holiday. Border inspection authorities nationwide have been instructed to strengthen monitoring of passenger flows and port operations and to release timely information to help travelers plan their trips. Authorities will also optimize staffing and duty arrangements to ensure that Chinese citizens wait no longer than 30 minutes for clearance.

The administration added that border inspection agencies will enhance coordination with other authorities and local governments to manage peak-hour traffic and ensure safe, efficient, and orderly border crossings.