Chongqing airport hits 2m passengers

Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport has witnessed a significant increase in passenger traffic this year, with the total number of inbound and outbound travelers exceeding 2 million as of Nov 18.

This marks a 30 percent rise compared to last year. Foreign travelers – including residents from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other countries – made up more than 893,000 passengers, setting a record at 44.5 percent of the total.

This surge in passenger numbers is primarily attributed to China's expanding visa-free and transit visa-free policies, which have bolstered Chongqing's position as a key inland hub.

There has also been a notable increase in flights between Chongqing and major Southeast Asian cities. This year, 436,000 Southeast Asian nationals traveled through Chongqing, with 71 percent visiting for tourism, business, or educational purposes.

A total of 509,000 tourists visited Southeast Asian countries, with Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia being the top destinations. The main reasons for travel included employment, study, family visits, and business meetings.

Chongqing has implemented measures to facilitate the 240-hour transit visa-free policy, including dedicated zones for visa-free transit applications, pre-arrival registration, on-the-spot processing, and streamlined procedures.

The airport has also introduced a 24-hour transit policy that allows travelers to bypass inspection procedures without leaving the airport, along with online registration for foreign entry cards to enhance transit and entry experiences.

Dedicated lanes for international tour groups and multilingual service teams have been established to improve clearance efficiency. A pilot "direct access" service for tour groups is also being explored.