(Yicai) Nov. 29 -- China will relax travel restrictions for people living in certain cities in the southern province of Guangdong to Hong Kong and Macao, to allow freer business and personal travel between the two regions. As soon as the news broke, there was a big jump in searches on travel platforms for Hong Kong and Macao.

Within half an hour of the news breaking, searches for Hong Kong and Macao soared 30 percent compared with the half hour prior to the announcement, Trip.com said.

Starting Dec. 1, people living in Shenzhen can apply for a year-long multiple-entry permit to Hong Kong, which will allow unlimited visits to the special administrative region but each visit will be capped at seven days, the National Immigration Administration said today.

And those living in Zhuhai can apply for a ‘weekly’ permit that will allow them to make one trip a week to Macao for a maximum duration of seven days each time, starting Jan. 1 next year, the regulator said.

Residents in the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone can apply for a one-year multi-entry permit to Macao, which will grant unrestricted visits to the special administrative region with each stay valid up to seven days.

The demand for travel, cultural, and business exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao has been growing steadily in recent years, said Qin Jing, vice president of Shanghai-based Trip.com. This move not only makes it more convenient for travelers but it is also expected to boost local tourism and related industries.

Travel bookings to Hong Kong and Macao from the mainland have jumped 11 percent this year from last year, according to data from Trip.com. For those living in Shenzhen and Zhuhai, it is easy to get to Hong Kong and Macao.

Ferry and bus ticket sales from Shenzhen to Hong Kong surged 21 percent this year from the year before, while car rental bookings soared 53 percent and entrance ticket sales jumped 38 percent.

Editor: Kim Taylor