The Shanghai Port received 42.4 million inbound and outbound passengers in 2016, up 12.9% YoY, according to statistics released by Shanghai General Station of Immigration Inspection.
The number breaks the highest record of 37.5 million in 2015.
Since the implementation of the new 144-hour transit visa exemption at Shanghai in January 2016, an estimated 35,000 foreign nationals have entered under the policy, 90% higher than the number of foreigners using the 72-hour visa-free policy in 2015.
Likewise, foreign cruise travelers are now allowed 15-day transit visa exemptions. Since the new policy, over 6,000 foreign cruise travelers have entered.
According to data, about 2.25 million passengers entered the country via these self-service channels in 2016, up 93% from 2015.
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