QINGDAO -- The number of passenger entries and exits through the Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in east China's Shandong Province rose 363.52 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of last year, according to data released by the Qingdao Airport Border Entry-Exit Inspection Station.

The sharp surge in the passenger volume came after Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand all exempted Chinese nationals from visa requirements, and after China unilaterally eased visa requirements for passengers from some European countries.
Started from March 24, China adopted a visa-free policy for a number of European countries, including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, on a trial basis. China also has implemented a 15-day visa-free policy for nationals from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia since last December.
These favorable policies have led to a continuous upsurge in the inbound and outbound tourism market in Shandong Province.
The number of inbound and outbound passenger trips through the Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport in the first quarter of this year exceeded 650,000, up 363.52 percent year on year, according to the data.
The number of passenger entries and exits during the Qingming Festival on April 4-6 is expected to reach nearly 20,000. They are mainly residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan returning to their ancestral hometowns.
The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on Thursday this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival that pays tribute to the deceased and is a time for people to worship their ancestors.