During the first half of this year, the city of Nanning in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region experienced a remarkable 71.9% year-on-year increase in overnight visitors from ASEAN member states. This growth is attributed to a series of convenient policies, including the 240-hour visa-free transit, simplified procedures for temporary driving permits, and an instant tax refund system for overseas shoppers.
Targeting its strategic role as a regional international tourism hub for ASEAN, Nanning has coordinated multiple government departments to streamline cross-border travel processes. Notably, visitors from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore accounted for 94.8% of all ASEAN overnight tourists, representing a substantial 60% of the city's total inbound overnight visitors.
To bolster its connectivity, Nanning Airport has actively enhanced its role as an international aviation gateway to Southeast Asia. Through close collaboration with airlines, flight frequencies on routes linking Nanning with key ASEAN cities have been increased. The airport now offers direct flights to destinations including Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Seri Begawan, Vientiane, Jakarta, Hanoi, Yangon, Manila, Haiphong, and Ho Chi Minh City, continuously improving its aviation network's reach across the region.
In recent years, Nanning has also focused on developing a comprehensive multi-modal transport system. This includes the smooth operation of international passenger trains to Vietnam and cross-border road coach services, which have solidified the city's function as a national tourism hub. At Nanning Wuxu Airport, measures such as pre-departure baggage inspection have been implemented to accelerate passenger clearance, making entry more efficient for international travelers.
Furthermore, the city has significantly enhanced payment convenience for foreign visitors, with all major cultural and tourism venues now accepting overseas bank cards. Given that ASEAN nations form the core source market for Nanning's inbound tourism, the city has introduced four distinct thematic travel routes to cater to diverse interests. These routes—featuring classic landscapes, nighttime experiences, wellness retreats, and cultural heritage—link iconic sites like Qingxiu Mountain, the Yong River, Yongzhou Ancient City, and Fantawild ASEAN Legend. These offerings collectively showcase Nanning's unique charm as the "Green City of China, Home of Old Friends."
According to a spokesperson from the Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism, the city will continue to leverage its geographical strengths. Future plans involve optimizing inbound services, refining tourism products, and integrating resources from scenic areas, performing arts, educational tourism, wellness, and sports. By upgrading its core offerings, Nanning aims to build an international cultural tourism cluster and deepen both people-to-people exchanges and industrial cooperation with ASEAN countries.