Xiamen’s Status as a Top Inbound Travel Destination in China

Since the beginning of 2026, Xiamen’s inbound tourism market has experienced explosive growth. As of February 27, 2026, the number of出入境旅客 at Xiamen ports has exceeded 1 million, setting a new record for the fastest time to reach the one-million mark. Key highlights include:

• Over 170,000 inbound foreign tourists.
• More than 60,000 foreign nationals entered under the visa-free policy, accounting for over 70% of the total inbound foreign tourists, a year-on-year increase of 20%.
• During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, Xiamen firmly ranked among the top ten most popular inbound travel destinations in China. The average daily number of foreign tourists visiting Gulangyu increased by over 50% compared to the previous year.
• Data from OTA platforms shows Xiamen was simultaneously selected as one of the “Top Ten Popular Off-Season Travel Destinations for Spring Festival” and one of the “Top Ten Preferred Destinations for Foreign Tourists.”

Where are the tourists visiting Xiamen coming from?

1. Major Source Countries/Regions

• Short-haul Asian Markets: The addition and increased frequency of flights to and from countries like South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia have significantly stimulated two-way tourist flows. Singapore, in particular, has become a key source country, benefiting from the visa-free policy and enhanced flight connectivity.
• Long-haul Markets: Xiamen Airport’s route network covers multiple countries and regions across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. According to media reports, tourists from countries such as Canada, Germany, France, Russia, and Italy are appearing frequently.
• Emerging Markets: Benefiting from China’s unilateral visa-free policies for countries like the United Kingdom and Canada (effective from February 17, 2026), the number of tourists from these nations to Xiamen is expected to continue growing.

2. Cross-Strait Exchanges

Taiwan Compatriot Market: In 2026, the number of direct travelers between the two sides inspected reached nearly 400,000, a year-on-year increase of nearly 20%. Of this, the Xiamen-Kinmen “Mini Three Links” passenger route transported over 300,000 passengers. During the Spring Festival holiday, there was a noticeable increase in the number of Taiwanese families coming to Xiamen to celebrate the holiday.