On October 15, the 136th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off in Guangzhou. Over the past week, the number of foreign visitors entering Shenzhen through various ports has been on the rise.
According to statistics released on October 16 by the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Frontier Inspection General Station, Shenzhen Airport, one of Guangdong’s major airports, welcomed a large influx of inbound exhibitors and business guests from October 9 to 15. The number of foreign arrivals at Shenzhen Airport exceeded 16,200, marking a remarkable year-on-year increase of 104.77%. Nearly 30% of these foreign arrivals held business, work, or official visas, with noticeable increases in travelers from Asia and Europe.
One notable traveler, Rihawi, a Jordanian citizen, arrived on China Southern Airlines flight CZ8436 from Dubai. This marks his ninth visit to China, specifically to attend the Canton Fair in search of electric machinery and equipment. “China has a very reliable source of products, so I always come here to procure the materials I need,” Rihawi explained.
Liang Rui, deputy director of the Shenzhen Airport Border Inspection Station, mentioned, “We’ve assigned officers with strong language skills to assist exhibitors at the fair with customs clearance. Additionally, for those from countries eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy but who haven’t finalized their visas, we provide temporary entry permits to facilitate their participation.”
To further streamline the process for flights carrying goods for the Canton Fair, the Shenzhen Airport Border Inspection Station has implemented a tailored approach for each flight, offering 24-hour uninterrupted customs clearance services to expedite the movement of exhibition materials.
Moreover, there has been a steady increase in foreign exhibitors entering Shenzhen through the Huanggang and Futian ports after transiting from Hong Kong. From October 9 to 15, around 13,000 foreign travelers passed through these two ports.
