The 136th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) concluded on Nov 4, setting new records for passenger traffic at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. 

Over 920,000 passengers and more than 6,200 flights were processed during the Canton Fair, marking increases of 10.6 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively, compared to the previous session. The daily average of inbound and outbound passengers reached approximately 45,000, with a peak of nearly 50,000 on Oct 19, the highest this year.

The fair also saw a rise in cargo flights, with over 1,400 flights, up 6.4 percent from the last session. Foreign passengers accounted for over 480,000, a 27.1 percent increase, with the top five countries being Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia. Seventy-two percent of foreign business visitors were from Belt and Road Initiative countries, totaling around 74,000, a 12 percent increase. European visitors also surged by 30 percent, influenced by favorable visa policies, with over 10,000 enjoying visa-free entry.

People at Baiyun Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. [Photo/Yangcheng Evening News]

Baiyun Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection enhanced passenger flow analysis and real-time monitoring, opening special channels for the Canton Fair. They issued over 4,000 temporary entry permits for eligible foreign travelers and optimized procedures for over 470 international cargo flights, saving approximately 330 hours in processing time and reducing costs by around 6.4 million yuan ($895,530).