新增9国免签，湖南将迎更多外国游客

From November 8, 2024 to December 31, 2025, China will implement a visa-free policy for travelers holding ordinary passports from Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein and South Korea. Ordinary passport holders from these nine countries will be exempted from visa requirements to enter China and can stay for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes. So far, a total of 29 countries can enjoy China's unilateral visa-free policy. 

据新湖南消息，自2024年11月8日至2025年12月31日，中方对斯洛伐克、挪威、芬兰、丹麦、冰岛、安道尔、摩纳哥、列支敦士登、韩国持普通护照人员试行免签政策。享受免签政策国家持普通护照人员，来华经商、旅游观光、探亲访友和过境不超过15天，可免签入境。至此，已有29个国家可享受中国单方面免签政策。

Data from the Hunan General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection showed that from January to October 2024, a total of 806,000 foreigners from 79 countries entered and exited China through Hunan's ports of entry, a year-on-year increase of 195.7%, and a year-on-year increase of 16.7% over the record set in 2019. The total number of arrivals from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore that have enjoyed visa-free access increased by 423% year-on-year in 2023, up 141% over the record set in 2019.

湖南出入境边防检查总站统计，2024年1至10月，有80.6万外籍人员从湖南口岸入出境，来自79个国家，遍布亚、欧、非、美、大洋洲，同比增长195.7%，比历史最高峰值的2019年同期增长16.7%。已享受免签待遇的泰国、马来西亚、新加坡三国入境人员总数同比2023年增长423%，比历史最高峰值的2019年同期增长141%。

As of October 31, Hunan's ports of entry handled nearly 1.4 million inbound and outbound trips, including more than 900,000 at Changsha and nearly 500,000 at Zhangjiajie. The number of cross-border trips handled at Zhangjiajie increased by 35% compared with the highest level in 2019, ranking first among non-provincial capital ports of entry in central China.

截至10月31日，湖南口岸年度出入境人员近140万人次，其中长沙口岸90余万人次，张家界口岸近50万人次。张家界口岸出入境人员较历史最高峰值的2019年全年增长35%，稳居中部非省会口岸第一。

From October 27 to November 2, the first week of operation of the winter and spring season, Hunan's ports of entry operated 177 international passenger flights, including 76 flights to and from South Korea, 40 flights to and from Thailand, 29 flights to and from Malaysia, 12 flights to and from Singapore, and 20 flights to and from Vietnam, Laos, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and other countries. Passenger flights to and from South Korea reached six cities, including Seoul, Cheongju, Muan, Busan, Daegu and Yangyang.

10月27日至11月2日，冬春航季运行第一周，湖南口岸单周国际客运航班运行177架次，其中往返韩国方向76架次，泰国方向40架次，马来西亚方向29架次，新加坡方向12架次，越南、老挝、肯尼亚、英国、印度尼西亚等方向共20架次。往返韩国的客运航班通达首尔、清州、务安、釜山、大邱、襄阳等6个城市。

To cope with growing inbound and outbound passengers, especially a large number of South Korean passengers who are about to enter China visa-free, the Hunan General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection has urged Changsha and Zhangjiajie entry-exit border inspection stations to thoroughly implement the various policies and measures of the National Immigration Administration to facilitate the flow of people and the conduct of business. The measures are as follows:

为应对持续攀升的出入境客流，特别是面对即将免签入境的大量韩国客流，湖南边检总站部署长沙、张家界边检站全面落实中国国家移民管理局的各项政策措施，以方便人员往来和商务活动。具体措施如下：

--Making scientific forecasts of passenger flows, and accordingly adjusting working staff arrangements, optimizing service modes, and increasing customs clearance passages;

——科学预测客流高峰，优化勤务模式，确保开足查验通道；

--Setting up foreign language service teams to provide border inspection and customs clearance service for foreigners;

——组建外语服务小分队，让外籍人员在机场口岸感受到宾至如归的边检通关服务；

--Establishing a system for applying for arrival cards on a regular basis on demand, so that passengers can make relevant preparations before arriving at the port of entry, and strengthening across-department coordination to reduce on-site waiting times; and,

——建立定期按需申领入境卡制度，以便旅客在到达口岸前就做好相关准备，多部门联动减少现场等待时间；

--Intensifying efforts to promote the 12367 immigration service platform, reminding inbound passengers to make relevant preparations for inspection in advance, and creating a safe and smooth environment for customs clearance at ports of entry.

——加大国家移民管理机构12367服务平台宣传力度，及时规范相关答复口径，提醒入境旅客提前做好相关查验准备，为口岸通关营造安全、顺畅的环境。