Photo taken on February 17, 2026 shows inbound passengers queue up in an orderly manner to go through the formalities at the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Guo Rui)

Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Wang Na) news: On February 26, 2026, it was learned from the Urumqi Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station under the Xinjiang General Station of Entry-Exit Border Inspection that since the beginning of this year, passenger traffic at the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport port has remained at a consistently high level, with the most significant increase observed in visa-free entries by foreign nationals.

According to statistics from the Urumqi Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, from January 1 to February 25, the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport inspected a total of over 141,000 inbound and outbound passengers, an increase of 51.6 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Among them, there were over 95,000 Chinese tourists and over 46,000 foreign tourists. With the continuous release of the benefits of China's visa-free policy, the number of foreign tourists entering the country visa-free through this port has reached over 16,000 this year, an increase of 91.7 percent year-on-year.

During the recently concluded Spring Festival holiday, passenger throughput at the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport experienced a marked surge. Statistics indicate that over the nine-day holiday period, the port processed more than 17,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, representing a 124 percent increase compared with the corresponding period in 2025 and setting a new record for the highest volume during the same holiday timeframe. Among them, the enthusiasm of Chinese citizens for outbound travel surged, reaching over 12,800 people, while inbound travel by foreign tourists also significantly increased, reaching over 4,200 people. The cultural resonance and festive appeal of the Spring Festival and broader Chinese traditions have attracted a growing number of international visitors seeking immersive cultural experiences. A traveler from Pakistan also remarked that he spent a joyful Spring Festival in Xinjiang.

Wang Shuaibin, instructor of the second team of the Urumqi Entry-Exit Border Inspection Station, introduced that the peak characteristics of passenger flow at the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport were significant this Spring Festival. The outbound peak was concentrated on February 15, the beginning of the holiday, and the inbound return peak appeared from February 20 to 23. During this period, the daily inbound and outbound passenger flow reached a peak of 2,500 people, substantially exceeding the levels of the same period in previous years. This data not only reflects the strong travel intentions of the general public but also underscores the continued enhancement of Urumqi Tianshan International Airport's role as an international aviation hub.

An analysis of passenger flow patterns indicates that neighboring countries have emerged as the primary destinations for Chinese outbound travelers. Statistical data show that Kazakhstan ranked first, accounting for 25.7 percent of total outbound travel, followed by Russia at 13.6 percent. Travelers visiting Hong Kong for tourism or family reunions constituted 13.3 percent of the total. In addition, the number of travelers to Uzbekistan, Georgia, and other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative has also significantly increased.

In response to the sustained growth in passenger volume, the inspection station has implemented effective measures such as the advance release of passenger flow advisories, dynamic adjustment of police force deployment, implementing a separate inspection mode for domestic and foreign passengers, strengthening guidance and diversion outside the inspection area, and optimizing channel settings, to provide strong support for the safe and smooth customs clearance of inbound and outbound travelers.

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