Beijing's border inspection agency recorded nearly 8.3 million entry and exit trips in the first half of 2024, marking a 185% increase compared to the same period last year. The rise is attributed to the summer travel season and relaxed travel policies facilitating tourism, business, and work. The 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy, expanded to 20 cities including Beijing, has been well-received, with 307,000 foreign travelers entering without a visa. June set a record with 65,000 entries and exits in a single day.
China has also extended a unilateral visa-free policy to countries like Germany, France, Italy, and recently to Australia, New Zealand, and Poland. This policy benefited nearly 163,000 foreigners from 15 countries as of July 2. Group tourism saw a significant rebound, with over 30,000 tourists visiting in the first half of the year, 30 times more than the same period last year. Mainland residents accounted for around 70% of total traffic, with over 5.74 million trips. The total number of entries and exits is expected to surpass 10 million by early August.