BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese port cities witnessed a notable surge in international tourist arrivals during the May Day holiday, spurred by streamlined visa policies and enhanced entry-exit services, according to immigration authorities across the country.

From April 30 to May 3, the number of inbound and outbound foreign nationals at Beijing ports reached 69,000, up 52.1 percent year-on-year, with tourism, family visits and business cited as the main reasons for entry.

On May 2, an international passenger flight from Paris touched down at Beijing Capital International Airport. As an elderly couple appeared uncertain while navigating the procedures at the immigration hall, Cui Zhuqing, a multilingual immigration officer, stepped forward to offer assistance in French, explaining the relevant policies and helping them clear customs smoothly.

At major ports in Beijing, including the Capital and Daxing airports, multilingual service personnel like Cui provided over 100 consultations per shift. Moreover, dedicated lanes were set up for elderly, sick, disabled and pregnant travelers, while "one-stop" counters were set up to issue temporary entry permits and handle formalities efficiently.

"Now it's so much easier to get a temporary entry permit. You don't even have to requeue -- it's as quick as tapping into the subway," a traveler from Russia said.

In south China's city of Guangzhou, over 154,000 inbound and outbound cross-border travelers were recorded between May 1 and 3, marking a 23 percent year-on-year increase. "All 34 of our inspection lanes were fully operational during peak hours to ensure a safe and efficient passage," said Lin Shunyue, an officer at the city's Baiyun immigration checkpoint.

As the third phase of the 137th China Import and Export Fair -- also known as the Canton Fair -- got underway, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport saw a sharp uptick in activity. At a fast-track lane dedicated to the fair, officers teamed up with an AI-powered consultation system to assist travelers.

"We visited Hong Kong after the second phase of the fair and returned for the third. China's visa-free policy made the whole process very convenient," a Polish businessman said.

In the southwest Sichuan Province, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport maintained 24-hour immigration services during the five-day holiday, allowing foreign travelers immediate access upon arrival.

With visa-free policies in place, a tourist from Spain had sufficient time to fully explore local attractions, see pandas, and enjoy Sichuan cuisine. "The city's unique charm, strong air connectivity, and efficient immigration clearance made Chengdu my top choice," she said.

According to provincial immigration authorities, as of May 3, the ports of Chengdu recorded 160,000 visa-free entries of foreign nationals this year, and more than 23,000 travelers benefited from 24- or 240-hour visa-free transits, while over 51,000 transited without the need for immigration clearance.

Nationwide, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on Tuesday announced that border inspection agencies across China recorded 1.12 million entry and exit trips made by foreign nationals during the holiday period, up 43.1 percent year-on-year.

Notably, more than 380,000 of them made visa-free entries into China, a 72.7 percent jump from the same period last year, according to the NIA.

China currently grants unilateral visa-free entry to 38 countries. It also extended the transit visa-free period to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries in December last year.  ■