New visa-free policy makes Yantai a hotspot

Inbound travelers waiting for customs clearance at Yantai Penglai International Airport. [Photo/ytcutv]

The National Immigration Administration announced on Dec 17 that foreign nationals are eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit, extended from the previous 72 hours or 144 hours. The policy went into effect immediately for Yantai Penglai International Airport.

That morning, 59 South Korean tourists arrived at Yantai Penglai International Airport on a flight operated by China Eastern Airlines and smoothly entered without a visa, becoming the first group of transit passengers since the implementation of the 240-hour visa-free transit policy at Yantai’s airport.

South Korean visitor Kim Yoon-hee expressed great anticipation for her trip to Yantai, having prepared in advance to visit its unique attractions like Yangma Island and Penglai Pavilion. "The relaxed visa-free transit policy has made it more convenient for us to come to China. The customs clearance procedures here are also very efficient and smooth. I really like this city and will come here often in the future," she said.

"After the announcement of the eased visa-free transit policy, there has been a noticeable increase in foreign tourists coming to China for sightseeing tours, especially from Japan and South Korea," said Wang Lin, a Yantai tour guide.

The implementation of this policy not only saves time for inbound tourists but also significantly improves the efficiency of customs clearance at Yantai's airport.

To handle the increase in passenger flow, local customs, border inspection stations, airlines, travel agencies, and other related entities have coordinated communication to accurately grasp information about inbound tourists. To promote the policy's success, they have also collaborated with relevant departments to conduct policy briefings and provide on-site guidance to ensure that tourists make proper declarations.