China experiences 34.3% increase in domestic tourism during Lunar New Year
19-02-24
During the recent Lunar New Year, China experienced a remarkable 34.3% increase in domestic tourist travel compared to the previous year, reaching 474 million trips. This increase also represents a 19% rise from pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported. Between the February 10-17 vacation period, domestic tourism revenue totaled 632.69 billion yuan (approximately $87.95 billion), marking a year-on-year growth of 47.3% and 7.7% compared to the same holiday period in 2019. Destinations such as Yunnan and Hainan provinces, along with the city of Harbin, stood out for their popularity, registering a 40% increase in bookings, driven by events such as its famous ice sculpture festival.
The ministry highlights this trend as a sign of significant recovery in the domestic tourism sector, which was severely affected by the restrictions of the 'zero covid' strategy. Stimulus policies, such as visa waivers and the resumption of air routes, have helped revitalize both inbound and outbound tourism.