Guangzhou ports handle 1.26 million passenger trips during 140th Canton Fair

(ECNS) -- Ports under the Guangzhou General Station of Immigration Inspection handled 1.26 million inbound and outbound passenger trips from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4 during the 140th China Import and Export Fair, up 4.3% from the same period of the previous edition, the station said Wednesday.

Of the inbound travelers, 350,000 were foreign nationals, accounting for 58% of the total, according to the station.

Passenger flows peaked at 64,000 trips in a single day during the fair. On Oct. 15, inbound passenger inspections reached a daily high of 35,000, including 24,000 foreign nationals. Outbound inspections peaked at 33,000 on Oct. 26.

Visa-free travelers accounted for 200,000 of the foreign nationals entering China, or 57% of the total. Another 76,000 entered on business visas, accounting for 22%.

The Baiyun Airport port handled more than 1.2 million inbound and outbound passenger trips and over 7,400 flights during the fair, up 7% and 6%, respectively, from the previous edition. Waterway ports in Guangzhou and nearby cities handled a combined 35,000 passenger trips.

To facilitate clearance, the station introduced 16 service measures, including additional personnel during peak periods, dedicated lanes for Canton Fair participants and multilingual guidance. It also adopted tailored clearance arrangements for important foreign guests and participating delegations.

(By Tang Yuxian)