Xi'an sees surge in inbound tourism

Thanks to the expanded 144-hour visa-free transit policy, Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has emerged as one of the hottest tourist destinations among foreigners visiting China.

In the first half of this year, Xi'an established air connectivity with 23 cities in 17 countries and regions, with 22 airlines operating 34 regular inbound and outbound routes.

During this period,Xi'an Xianyang International Airportcustoms facilitated the entry of 263,000 passengers, a 3.3-fold increase from the same period last year, including 73,000 international visitors, a 5.7-fold rise. 

To manage this surge in inbound travelers, customs provided efficient and professional services to ensure swift clearance. It upgraded the "smart customs clearance" system, enhanced early machine inspections and intelligent remote image analysis, implemented passenger classification supervision using big data and AI, streamlined customs procedures, and reduced clearance times effectively.

Multilingual service teams in English, Russian, Japanese, and Korean have been established to offer information and guidance and to assist tourists with entry procedures.

Additionally, in collaboration with banks, airport authorities, and other entities, efforts have been made to make paying easier for overseas visitors in China.

From January to June, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport customs processed 306 outbound tax refund claims for overseas travelers, an 8-fold increase from the same period last year, totaling 10.88 million yuan ($1.5 million), a 6.7-fold rise.