GUANGZHOU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- As Chen and her family prepared to board their flight at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, she paused to watch a short video on overseas travel safety.
After the video ended, she asked a nearby immigration officer a few follow-up questions about border inspection procedures and travel precautions. "The videos and the officers' explanations made me feel much more prepared for the trip," said Chen.
Her experience reflects China's recent efforts to make cross-border travel not only more convenient, but also safer and more orderly as international exchanges and tourism continue to expand.
China recently unveiled a set of regulations on exit-entry administration, which will take effect on Sept. 15. The regulations refine procedures for exit-entry administration, strengthen protection of travelers' lawful rights and interests, improve risk warning mechanisms, and regulate intermediary services.
Official data showed China's border inspection agencies handled a record 369 million inbound and outbound crossings in the first half of 2026, up 10.8 percent year-on-year. Among them, mainland residents accounted for 176 million trips, while foreign nationals made 45.9 million trips, with both figures registering double-digit growth.
This trend has been especially noticeable at major international gateways. As of July 19, Shanghai Pudong International Airport had recorded 3.29 million inbound trips by foreign nationals this year, up 22 percent year-on-year, while Chinese travelers recorded 5.45 million overseas trips through the airport during the same period.
In this year's summer travel rush, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport also handled more than 1.61 million inbound and outbound passenger trips, up 13.7 percent year-on-year, while the number of inbound foreign travelers rose 50.4 percent.
The surging volume and growing diversity of cross-border travel have placed higher demands on exit-entry administration for the country, legal experts said.
"As China pursues high-level opening-up, more citizens and businesses are venturing abroad, leading to significant changes in traveler profiles, the nature of their trips and their expectations for rights protection," said Guo Yongliang, professor from China People's Police University.
Meanwhile, the international landscape has become more complex and uncertain, with rising overseas security risks and more frequent emergencies, said Guo.
The latest regulations are a timely and swift response to new challenges in exit-entry administration, said Cheng Xiezhong, law professor from the China University of Political Science and Law.
Since the Exit and Entry Administration Law took effect in 2013, it has played an important role in regulating cross-border travel and protecting travelers' lawful rights and interests, and the new regulations build on that foundation as domestic and international conditions evolve, said Cheng.
A notable highlight of recent policies is the establishment of a more systematic overseas safety alert and risk prevention mechanism.
Relevant authorities and Chinese diplomatic missions overseas will issue travel safety alerts and destination-specific risk warnings, while immigration authorities may remind travelers heading to high-risk areas to take precautions or reconsider their plans.
The regulations mark a shift from post-event response to proactive risk prevention, placing greater emphasis on identifying and addressing risks before travelers leave China rather than relying mainly on assistance after emergencies occur, said Cheng.
At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, such measures are already taking shape. Electronic displays show overseas travel safety videos, while immigration officers provide on-site guidance and targeted reminders for tourists, overseas workers and students, including warnings against overseas scams and illegal employment.
Beyond strengthening risk prevention, the new regulations also underscore that applications for exit-entry documents, visas and residence permits should be based on truthful and lawful purposes. They also introduce a filing system for intermediary agencies providing services like visa consultation and document processing.
The measures are intended to foster a more regulated market and protect travelers' rights and interests by curbing false advertising, forged application materials, improper handling of personal information and other irregular practices, said Qi Liqin, head of the Beijing immigration and exit-entry service association.
At the same time, immigration authorities across China are continuing to enhance travel facilitation efforts. China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to nationals of 50 countries. Nationals from 55 countries can now utilize the 240-hour visa-free transit program to enter China via 65 designated ports.
In international hubs such as Guangzhou and Shanghai, immigration authorities have rolled out a range of facilitation measures for eligible travelers, including fast-track channels and multilingual assistance services.
For Gerard Al-Fil, a businessman from Dubai who frequently visits China for exhibitions and client meetings, the improvements have been noticeable.
"The biggest impression for me is that coming to China has become much more efficient and convenient than before," he said. "When the process is simple and efficient, we can focus more on meetings, exhibitions and business opportunities." ■
