By Zhao Yu

Ningbo Lishe International Airport recorded a six-year high in cross-border passenger traffic in 2025. Customs officials cleared a total of 1.071 million inbound entries and outbound exits over the year, up 21.6% year on year, according to data released by Ningbo Airport Customs on Jan. 9

International connectivity continued to improve. In 2025, the airport operated 19 international passenger routes linking Ningbo with 18 overseas destinations, including Budapest, Jeju, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. A total of 7,691 international passenger flights were handled during the year, representing a 15.72% increase from the previous year.

"Over the past year, we worked closely with airlines to expand international passenger services," said Yan Liang, head of Passenger Inspection Section 1 at Ningbo Airport Customs. "In addition to resuming flights to Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Vientiane, we also introduced a new transit route. Passenger flight volume rose by more than 15% year on year."

Travel to Hong Kong and Macao accounted for a significant share of outbound traffic. More than 210,000 passengers traveled to the two regions in 2025, up 23.77% year on year and representing about 40% of outbound travelers. Passenger numbers to Southeast Asian destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand exceeded 100,000, marking a year-on-year increase of 19.9%.

Travelers reported short clearance times despite higher volumes. "There were clearly more passengers than before, but the entry process was efficient and orderly," said Mr. Zhang, a Ningbo resident who recently returned from Singapore, where he visited relatives.

Customs officials attributed the growth of cross-border passenger traffic to rising inbound tourism, which, in turn, has been fueled by expanded VAT refund policies for foreign visitors and the increase in duty-free shopping options.

In 2025, Ningbo Airport Customs processed more than 5.43 million yuan in tax refunds for departing travelers, nearly tripling the amount recorded a year earlier, according to official figures.