Jinan sees boom in cross-border travel

Jinan, capital of Shandong province, experienced a dramatic increase in cross-border travel in 2024. According to the city's airport customs, the Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport handled a total of 6,415 inbound and outbound flights and 787,000 passengers in 2024, marking year-on-year increases of 130 percent and 220 percent, respectively.

The growth is partly due to the expansion of the airport's international routes, boosting domestic interest in overseas travel and driving a surge in outbound tourism. Additionally, with China's new visa-exemption policies, Jinan has become a popular entry point for foreign tourists, being one of the 21 newly opened international ports.

To manage the growing passenger flow, the airport upgraded its technology, added more temperature-monitoring gates, and optimized security and baggage screening, streamlining the border clearance process.

It has also tailored its services to better meet passenger needs, implementing "country-specific" and "flight-specific" clearance procedures. Multilingual support and special assistance for elderly, sick, disabled, and pregnant travelers are also available.

According to Wang Dongdong, director of Jinan airport customs, Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport opened five new flight routes in 2024. The airport now offers flights to destinations in eight countries and regions, including Japan and South Korea, providing more diverse travel options for passengers, Wang said.