A family of four from Malaysia arrives in Hangzhou on Nov 1 for a 10-day holiday. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Hangzhou International Airport welcomed its 4 millionth border crossing of 2024 on Nov 1, when a family of four arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a 10-day holiday in Hangzhou.

This milestone reflects the ongoing surge in inbound travel, with daily flows exceeding 13,000 passengers, recovering to 78.5 percent of the pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

The boom in tourism, driven by favorable policies such as visa exemptions and transit visa waivers, has significantly boosted inbound tourism and business travel.

According to Hangzhou's immigration checkpoint, international travelers now represent 14.1 percent of total entries, recovering to 95 percent of 2019 numbers. The growing list of visa-exempt countries has also contributed, with nearly 30 percent of foreign visitors arriving from exempt nations.

The uptick in travelers has accelerated international flight recovery, with over 26,000 flights so far this year, 91.5 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Currently, the airport operates 32 passenger routes across 22 countries, and on Nov 17, it will launch a new route to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, further connecting China with Central Asia.

In response to rising demand, Hangzhou has implemented enhanced transfer services, including the newly opened international-to-domestic and domestic-to-international transit halls, enabling streamlined baggage transfers and minimizing wait times for transiting passengers.

A police officer helps an international passenger with his entry application. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]