The Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) has experienced a surge in international arrivals and departures during this year's summer travel rush in July, processing a total of 2.95 million passengers and registering over 240,000 international travelers who have opted to utilize China's 24-hour visa-free transit policy.

The airport has witnessed a significant uptick in passenger traffic both inbound and outbound, which is attributed to the continuous growth in domestic and international tourism markets. This increase has been further fueled by the expansion of long-haul international routes to popular destinations in Europe, Central Asia, and Australia.

According to the immigration administration police at Shanghai port, the Pudong airport handled an average of 520 inbound and outbound passenger flights daily in July, marking a month-on-month increase of approximately 10 percent. The airport experienced 22 days with over 100,000 international passengers per day, averaging 103,000 passengers daily — a notable 65 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

The rising popularity of group travel has also played a significant role in the airport's increased traffic. Family vacations, summer study tours, and excursions to attend performances have emerged as key drivers for group travel at Pudong airport, with a notable presence of students and children among the travelers.

Moreover, the concurrent occurrence of two major international sports events, the UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2024 Paris Olympics, has led to a surge in demand for flights to hosting countries like Germany and France, making sports tourism a prominent feature of outbound travel this season.

The influx of overseas visitors aligns with China's expanded visa-free policy, attracting a growing number of foreign nationals to Shanghai. Since the onset of the summer travel season, Pudong Airport has overseen over 583,000 foreigners entering and leaving China, marking a 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, the number of visa-free entries by foreigners has quadrupled to 72,000 from the same period last year, showcasing a growing trend in visa-free travel.

Source: "pdnews" WeChat account