Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province is expected to become the third Chinese city to allow foreign visitors to transit for 72 hours without a visa, according to Tan Wangen, General Manager of China Southern Airlines.

"We are actively talking with the local airport and customs authorities to push the implementation of the visa-free transit policy as soon as possible," Tan said.

Since January 1, travelers from 45 countries have been benefiting from 72-hour visa-free stays in Beijing and Shanghai. With the adoption of this policy, Shanghai has registered more than 1,000 foreign passengers transiting from its Hongqiao and Pudong airports without visas, the local immigration control authorities said.

The number of inbound tourists to Beijing is expected to increase to 10 million within the next three years as a result of the policy, said the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

"If the negotiations go smoothly, the policy will be implemented in Guangzhou within this year," Tan told Xinhua News Agency.