Xiamen is cementing its position as one of China’s fastest-growing international tourism and travel hubs after cross-border passenger traffic through its main airport surpassed two million trips in the first half of the year.
The surge in numbers has been attributed to the rising global interest in ‘China Travel’ and the city’s expanding openness to foreign visitors.
Xiamen is emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global travel boom, driven by rising international tourism and China's expanding visa-free policies.
Official data shows that as of June 15, inbound and outbound passenger trips through Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport exceeded two million, representing a six per cent year-on-year increase.
The milestone was reached nine days earlier than in 2025, setting a new record for the same period, a brief from the city’s leadership reads.
The figures speak to Xiamen's growing status as one of China's leading inbound tourism cities and a key gateway for foreign visitors seeking to experience the country's culture, heritage and leisure attractions.
The city's growing prominence was on display at the recently concluded 40th Hong Kong International Travel Expo, where more than 500 exhibitors from 66 countries and regions showcased tourism and cultural products.
Representing one of China's top ten inbound tourism cities, Xiamen used the event to market itself as a premier destination under the increasingly popular ‘China Travel’ brand.
A major attraction at the expo was the Xiamen–Hong Kong Connected-City Travel Package, which leverages China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy for foreign travelers.
The package combines curated cross-border itineraries linking Xiamen and Hong Kong, offering visitors an immersive multi-destination travel experience.
The initiative reflects China's broader efforts to encourage inbound tourism through easier travel arrangements and expanded visa facilitation measures.
At the Xiamen Culture and Tourism Pavilion, visitors were introduced to the city's diverse attractions through a UNESCO World Heritage-themed Gulangyu lightbox installation, alongside the tourism mascots ‘Chenggong Ge’ and ‘Duolai A Meng’.
Seeking to appeal to younger travellers, Xiamen promoted the tourism campaign ‘Come to Xiamen and Enjoy a Purr-fect Summer’, highlighting experiences such as traditional Minnan tea-table culture, City Walk tours and themed travel inspired by popular television dramas.
The promotional efforts come as international arrivals through Xiamen continue to climb.
According to official statistics, nearly 600,000 foreign travellers entered or exited China through Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport during the first half of the year, representing growth of more than 17 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Authorities attribute much of the increase to visa facilitation policies and improved border clearance procedures.
More than 170,000 foreign travellers entered China visa-free through the airport, marking an increase of more than 35 per cent year-on-year.
Officials say customs and immigration procedures have been further streamlined, significantly reducing clearance times and improving the overall travel experience for international visitors.
The growth highlights the increasing effectiveness of China's efforts to position itself as an accessible destination for global tourists, business travellers and event participants.
As Xiamen continues to expand its level of openness, demand for cross-border business exchanges, conferences, exhibitions and tourism travel has remained strong, helping drive sustained growth in passenger traffic through the city's ports.
Beyond its role as a transportation hub, Xiamen's appeal lies in its combination of natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Known for its coastal scenery and distinctive Minnan cultural heritage, the city has become increasingly attractive to foreign travellers seeking sightseeing, leisure and holiday experiences.
Statistics indicate that more than 70 per cent of inbound foreign travellers arriving in Xiamen visit for tourism, sightseeing or to visit relatives and friends.
The data also points to changing travel preferences, with family vacations and independent leisure travel emerging as the dominant forms of inbound tourism.
Industry observers say Xiamen's success demonstrates how second-tier Chinese cities are increasingly benefiting from the popularity of ‘China Travel’.
This is as international visitors look beyond traditional gateways such as Beijing and Shanghai in search of authentic cultural experiences.
With visa-free arrivals rising sharply and tourism demand continuing to grow, Xiamen is positioning itself as both a destination and gateway city.
It is combining streamlined entry procedures, international connectivity and unique cultural attractions to capture a larger share of China's expanding inbound tourism market.
International tourists enjoy sightseeing on Gulangyu Island.
