Immigration authorities across China yesterday handled 676,000 exits and entries, hitting a record high since the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said yesterday.
NIA statistics showed that Monday’s figure jumped by 124.2% from the average daily entry and exit trips before China downgraded its Covid-19 management on Jan. 8, and accounted for nearly 37% of the pre-Covid-19 level.
Land ports with Hong Kong and Macau saw 568,000 entries and exits on Monday, accounting for 84 percent of the daily total and increasing by 39.2% from the previous day.
On Monday, normal travel between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and Macau was fully resumed.
The long-awaited resumption of mainland tour groups has commenced, with the city welcoming a total of 135 tourists Monday, divided into six tour groups.
The resumption of group tours is expected to further elevate Macau’s tourism industry, a major propellant for its economy.
“Tour operators in Macau have been making preparations to embrace a full recovery,” said Zhang Jianzhong, chairman of China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd.
Data from online travel agency Trip.com Group showed that as of Saturday, bookings for Hong Kong and Macau trips this week by mainland residents were up 228% year on year. MDT/Xinhua
