摘要：The Canton Fair has not only served as a bridge for international trade and cooperation, but also a vivid reflection of the integr
The Canton Fair has not only served as a bridge for international trade and cooperation, but also a vivid reflection of the integration of culture, commerce, and tourism across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
"In the past, time was tight and I could only rush through the fAIr. Now I have ten days, so not only can I discuss Business, but I also have time to enjoy a night cruise on the Pearl River and explore Yongqing Fang to feel the charm of Guangzhou!" said Maria, a British buyer, after completing the 240-hour visa-free transit procedures at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Her words reflect a shift among global businessmen from rushing schedules to slow experiences.
Since December 17th, 2024, the National Immigration Administration has implemented a 240-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens of 54 countries. This upgraded policy enables more global traders to explore the beauty of the GBA while attending the Canton Fair. Since April, over 600,000 inbound and outbound visitors and more than 4,000 international flights have been processed at Baiyun Frontier Inspection Station, among which the number of global buyers with business visas increased by over 64.6% year-on-year, and more than 3,200 eligible global travelers have benefited from the visa-free transit policy.
"From landing to customs clearance, the whole process was smooth! I'm planning to join the Canton Cuisine Carnival with my business partners in Guangzhou and enjoy Chinese cuisine," said Thomas from Germany. He completed his entry procedures with the help of a multilingual team of the Guangzhou General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, and was impressed by the smart border inspection system with an AI assistant providing real-time answers to travelers' questions.
"Last year at the Canton Fair, I learned how to use mobile payments! This time, I plan to visit Canton Tower and Haixinsha Island, and also travel to Shenzhen and Zhuhai," said Miller, a frequent businessman who travels between China and Germany all year round, excitedly showing his "check-in map" on his phone. The extended visa-free time not only allows global businessmen to enjoy a more relaxed fair experience, but also promotes culture and tourism consumption in the GBA. In the first two months of 2025, Guangzhou welcomed 728,100 overnight inbound tourists, generating 529 million dollars in tourism-related international exchange. More and more international buyers are transforming from "passing visitors" into "deep explorers."
"Business meetings today, sightseeing in the 'Flower City' tomorrow." For Maxim from Russia, his itinerary connects the Canton Fair exhibition halls with cultural landmarks such as a night cruise on the Pearl River and Yongqing Fang. As a hub city in the GBA, Guangzhou is leveraging the Canton Fair to explore a new path of deep integration between culture, commerce, and tourism.
Faisal, a buyer from Saudi Arabia, shared his plans to visit intangible cultural heritage blocks in Guangzhou and experience traditional arts like Guang embroidery, olive carving, and Cantonese opera costumes. "It saved me nearly two hours to get my buyer's badge right after entering!" He obtained his badge at the remote registration center at Pazhou Ferry terminal, and planned to experience the "Lingnan Flying Needle" after finishing his purchases. Currently, the terminal has reduced the average registration time from 30 to just 15 minutes.
Source: Lingnan On the Cloud
谈生意+湾区游，这届广交会外商开启参展“新路线”
广交会不仅是经贸合作的桥梁，更成为粤港澳大湾区“文商旅”融合发展的生动写照。
“以前时间紧张，只能匆匆参展，现在有10天时间，我不仅能谈生意，还能去珠江夜游、逛永庆坊，感受广州的魅力！”英国客商玛丽亚在广州白云机场口岸办妥240小时过境免签手续后，如是感慨。这句话背后，是国际客商从“赶时间”到“慢体验”的转变。
自2024年12月17日起，国家移民管理局对54国人员实施240小时过境免签政策。持续优化升级的过境免签政策，带动更多外商在参展之余，也深度体验粤港澳大湾区的春日盛景。4月份以来，白云边检站已查验出入境旅客超60万人次、国际航班超4000架次，其中，持商贸签证入境的外国人同比增长超64.6%，超过3200名符合条件的外国旅客享受到过境免签政策的便利。
“从落地到通关，全程顺畅！我想我会和广州的商业伙伴们参加‘食在广州嘉年华’，品尝中国的美食。”德国客商托马斯在广州边检“多语言服务队”协助下完成入境手续，AI助手实时解答疑问的智慧边检令他惊叹。
“去年参加广交会，我学会了使用移动支付！这次我准备去游览广州塔、海心沙，还想去深圳和珠海旅游！”常年往返中德的客商米勒，兴奋地展示着手机里的“打卡”地图。政策“加时”不仅让外商参展更从容，更激活了湾区文旅消费。2025年前两个月，广州接待过夜入境游客72.81万人次，旅游外汇收入5.29亿美元，外商从“匆匆过客”变为“深度玩家”。
“今天谈订单，明天游花城。”俄罗斯客商马克西姆的行程表上，广交会展馆与珠江夜游、永庆坊等文旅地标串联成线。作为粤港澳大湾区的核心枢纽城市，广州正以广交会为重要契机，积极探索“文商旅”深度融合的全新发展路径。
沙特采购商费萨尔告诉记者，他准备带着团队走进广州非遗街区，体验广绣、榄雕和粤剧扮相。“入境后直接办证，节省了快2个小时！”他在琶洲港澳客运口岸远端办证点快速领取采购商证，准备完成当天采购工作后去感受“岭南飞针”针灸技艺。目前，琶洲港澳客运口岸通过优化流程，将办证等候时间从30分钟压缩至15分钟。
文｜记者 鄢敏 通讯员 徐旭宇 邓潮
图｜通讯员供图
翻译丨盛嘉
审校丨林佳岱
来源：羊城派一点号
